NCAA: Arellano coach ‘disappointed’ as Chiefs blow lead in last-second loss

FILE – Arellano coach Cholo Martin. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Arellano head coach Cholo Martin left the court early in the Chiefs’ heartbreaking loss to Jose Rizal University in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at San Juan Arena.

Martin was displeased after Arellano lost on a last-second triple by Ry Dela Rosa and didn’t even wait for the final buzzer when game officials had to put back 0.3 tenths of a second left as he and several Arellano players also missed the playing of the school hymn.

“They went out on their own but me, I was really disappointed with how they (my players) handled the game. It was too much,” Martin said following Arellano’s 70-67 setback in a game where the Chiefs squandered a double-digit advantage in the final frame.

The referees put 0.3 tenths of a second back on the clock after the horn sounded initially. The clock was reset after a personal foul was called against JRU’s Joshua Guiab on Neil Tolentino.

Tolentino missed two meaningless free throws but more drama ensued with most of the Chiefs heading toward their locker room before the school hymn was played.

Arellano (3-2) looks to bounce back against undefeated College of St. Benilde (3-0) on September 28.