UST’s Abdul blasts officiating in Game 2

MANILA, Philippines – UST's Karim Abdul has called out the referees for their supposedly unfair take on Game 2 of the 76th UAAP men’s basketball finals, with DLSU taking a 77-70 win to tie the series 1-1 and force a winner-take-all showdown on Saturday.

"I believe the referees played a role in the game. So I've never said this before but today (Saturday), the referees, they really played," said Abdul, who committed three fouls in the first half.

Abdul finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in 35 minutes of action, but pointed out his match-up with La Salle big man Arnold Van Opstal as a turning point for the game.

"What's frustrating was the refs were not calling the pushing and holding even when (Arnold) Van Opstal was posting up and using his arm to block me. The referees would tell me not use my arm to block him. I can't understand," said a frustrated Abdul.

Despite their disheartening loss in Game 2 that would have propelled them to their first championship since 2006, the Cameroonian big man vowed to come back stronger in the next game.

"In Game 3, I’m going to be in kill mode. I’m going to come out ready and will not relax in any quarter, even if the refs will tell me not to do that," vowed Abdul.

The main focus of the 21-year-old UST center is to bring back the championship to Espana, caring less for any individual award after taking home a mythical five award.

"It’s an achievement. But that’s not important. What’s important is we play as a team and win the championship. I don’t care about the individual award. I just want the championship. That’s the best for me," he said.