Greenhorns Don Lacbu and Kat Gonzales of Cable Car Alabang made a surprising yet controversial win over favorite Leo Sanchez and Grace Donceras of Hard Rock Café, 2-0, in the best-of-three finals of the Mixed Doubles category of the NBA 8^th Ball Tournament. Leo and Grace have been pairing for the mixed doubles for quite some time and their tandem is really exceptional. But the Don and Kat duo has really made an upset in the game.

"Yeah! It was a controversial match but it is the referee’s decision so we have to respect that. It’s one break of a game for us, really. We’re just fresh in this tournament, so we just play the way we should be playing. Hopefully, we can make a repeat next season," said Don. "We are very, very nervous because our opponents were good. Very good. Teamwork has been the key to our victory here," added Kat.

"We are grateful to Douglas for giving us the opportunity to play in his team and we are happy to offer the trophy to him. We’ll gladly offer the trophy to him," the neophytes said. These two guys are both residing in Alabang. Don works for Cable Car and Kat is a regular visitor of the place.

Grace, on the other hand, also alleged that something is wrong with the call. But nonetheless she accepted the decision and was still smiling sweetly despite the loss. She demonstrated before the Philippine News Explorer what actually happen but said in the end that it’s alright.

The controversy came up after a crucial call of the referee, NBA PRO Charlie Lopez in the second set of the match. It was alleged that Lopez committed a wrong decision favoring the winning pair from Cable Car. But Lopez stand on his judgment saying it was a good call and that he has to die for it. Sanchez surprisingly was complaining loudly catching attention from spectators and other players. Hard Rock Café team captain and NBA President Degenever "Buddy" Laudato came to the rescue and pacified Sanchez saying they must accept and respect the decision of the referee. But Sanchez just couldn’t accept the judgment and left the venue at once despite the pleasant gesture his team captain and NBA president is giving him.

The incident has caught the attention of NBA Commissioner Cesar Fuster Correa. "It should have been done in a nice courteous manner so that nobody will get hurt. That’s all. Nothing else. I was close to the incident and I knew it was a good call. I cannot intervene because there is a referee not unless my position is being asked then that’s the time that I would intervene. But there is a referee. He has a final say," explained Correa.

He furthered that "The referee’s call, in any instance, in any place or situation, the referee’s call is always final. And he is in a better position than the guy who is questioning the judgment of the referee. He was far from the table. If he has been close to the table, if he is in a better position to actually see the incident, by all means you can question in a nice courteous manner. No more. In any sports you cannot do that or otherwise, it would be taken up in the committee on what actions should be taken against him. We must call his attention for doing such thing or otherwise he could be abusing for the rest of his life while playing. Because nobody stopped him but I call the attention of the team captain of Hard Rock. I cannot involve directly, it should be the team captain to pacify him. Because that is the responsibility of the team captain."

The NBA gentleman elucidated that there is no need to teach them (players) on how to protest in a nice manner. He said that it should always be in a nice courteous manner. It is never good to complain in a boisterous manner. "That is not good. And you don’t have to leave the venue after the incident. You know you still have an obligation to receive your award. He just left," uttered Correa. According to him, they will first call the attention of the committee whether there would be necessary action to impose but asserted that he would fight for it. "It depends on the body. I just want to take the attention of the player. Like I said before, the referee’s judgment is always final. He must die for his call." #