Newsome says Vucinic's Game 3 ejection something 'to look into as a league'

Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic barely commented regarding his ejection late in Game 3 of Bolts' quarterfinals duel against rival Barangay Ginebra last Sunday in PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup. 

The Serbian consultant received his second technical foul after an outburst toward a game official when Akil Mitchell was called for an offensive foul in the 5:41 mark of the fourth period. The call on Mitchell was later overturned after a successful challenge by the Bolts. 

However, the technical foul called on Vucinic stood, leading to his ejection from the playing court. Meralco eventually lost to the Gin Kings, 95-87, to bow out of contention. 

"I’d like to congratulate Ginebra on [the] good win," a calmer Vucinic told members of the press after the game at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

"Yeah, I’m sick of some things. Thank you very much."

Chris Newsome, though, had more to say on the incident, sharing he respected Vucinic for standing up for them in the heated do-or-die quarterfinals where a semifinals spot against top-seeded NorthPort was at stake. 

"I got respect for it because he’s fighting for us. That shows that he’s fighting for us and he cares about the team that he’s coaching," Newsome added.

"He’s just as passionate as anyone else so there’s nothing wrong with your coach getting fired up, you see that on the other side as well. That’s part of the game."

Newsome also stressed that the league should look into the matter, especially when even small things matter in high stake games like that. 

"However, I feel like it’s kind of just bad luck that you got thrown out on a call that was reversed," added Newsome who was fouled out with 2:58 left in the fourth period. He finished with 22 points, three rebounds, and one assist in the said game.

"I’m not sure on the rules about that but he got thrown out because he had a point that that was the wrong call and we challenged it and even though that he had a point and he was right, that technical throws him out of the game and he doesn’t have a chance to go back even if their call was wrong."

"I think that’s something that we have to look into as a league."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News