Frustration boiled over in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday night, Oct. 15, as University of the East head coach Chris Gavina unleashed a fiery tirade against the game officials following the Red Warriors’ narrow 111-110 overtime loss to the De La Salle Green Archers at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“First of all, I want to say to these three referees, never f***ing ref again in any of our games, because they took… It was a complete disservice for the outcome of this game,” said a visibly irate Gavina as UE dropped its sixth straight loss of the season.

“And the beauty of the game because you’ll call an unsportsmanlike foul on one of our best players… get the f*** outta here,” he added.

Gavina was referring to a controversial call against Wello Lingolingo, who was assessed an unsportsmanlike foul for allegedly landing on Kean Baclaan’s right knee at the 4:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Baclaan was stretchered off the court following the incident.

The incident added to La Salle’s growing list of injury concerns, with the team already missing Mason Amos due to a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear.

Lingolingo was eventually ejected after being assessed an unsportsmanlike foul (category 2), having already drawn a technical earlier in the game for flopping. At the time of his exit, the 6-foot-1 guard had tallied 24 points.

Despite the setback, UE managed to pull ahead, building an 89-84 lead. However, the Taft-based squad regrouped and regained momentum in overtime to escape with the win.

“We talked about the outcome and the beauty of these games and the players, but what’s happening? There’s three idiots on the f***ing floor,” Gavina said.

“And they got nothing, even to explain to me. What, you're not giving us calls because we’re not in the top four teams?” he added. 

The fiery UE mentor also called for accountability and further explanation from the officiating crew regarding the controversial play.

Just last weekend, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin also expressed his frustration,  crytically referring to a "third team" -- a remark widely interpreted as a critique of the game officials.

Despite his outburst, the 46-year-old Gavina extended well wishes to Baclaan, whose condition remains uncertain following the incident.

“Prayers out to Kean. Hopefully, nothing serious happened,” he said.

UE looks to end its first-round campaign on a high note and snap a six-game losing skid when it takes on Far Eastern University this Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Silver lining. Like I told my team, we’re knocking out the door… I told them if we can go toe-to-toe with a UAAP finalist and a champion, we can do that with anybody,” said Gavina.

“That’s what we got to carry with us. Yes, there’s pain in there, we got to go through this… I’m hoping to inspire the younger players to start contributing,” he added.