Maierhofer slams 'dubious' 2nd technical

It was virtually over for La Salle the moment Rico Maierhofer was thrown out the game.

With still 1:31 left in the third quarter and La Salle very much in the contest, the team’s second best-scorer was ejected after drawing a second technical, dashing the Archers’ comeback bid and a chance to send the best-of-three series into a winner-take-all affair against Ateneo.

Instead, the Eagles took it all.

The 6-4 Maierhofer was slapped a technical foul for pointing a dirty finger at Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

It was his second technical following an earlier infraction for engaging Ateneo’s Nonoy Baclao in a taunting match in the first half and Maierhofer was consequently tossed out of the contest the Archers could not afford to lose.

Maierhofer, however, insisted he didn’t do anything that would merit the second technical.

“Kay Jvee ako nakatingin. Andun si Jvee sa corner, wala akong ginawang masama. Nakatalikod lahat sila. Sabi ko ‘Jvee rebound’ kasi si Jvee tumigil siya (I was looking at Jvee. He was in the corner. I didn’t do anything bad. Their back is on me. I just said ‘Jvee rebound’ because Jvee stopped),” said a visibly irked Maeirhofer.

Maeirhofer, however, was inconsolable as he covered his face and wept.

Embittered over the incident, Maierhofer said he might skip from playing his fifth and last season in the league.– Joey Villar