ARGENTE CALLS FOUL ON TECHNICAL WHICH RESULTED IN HIS EJECTION

BY MILES ARCENAL

SHAWN Argente was only starting to get going midway through the third quarter, spearheading a JRU rally after scoring consecutive baskets to pull his squad to within five against St. Benilde, 48-43. 

But his game came to an abrupt end after scoring a tough floater over his high school teammate in Shawn Umali in the 3:06 mark of the third quarter. 

All hyped up in the middle of a Heavy Bomber rally, the referees deemed Argente’s celebration too much as he was assessed with a technical foul for taunting – his second T of the game -- resulting in an automatic ejection for the third year guard. 

READ: Benilde steady in the clutch as it fends off upset-conscious JRU

Argente disputed the taunting call, explaining that he was playing it up to the JRU gallery who was loving every single moment of their run. 

"Sobrang unfair naman no’n kasi celebration yun eh tsaka sa crowd naman ako nakatingin," said a visibly frustrated Argente after the game. 

"Sobrang layo na ng referee, isipin mo nasa kabilang baseline siya, ako nasa kabilang baseline, tatawagan niya pa ako. Check niyo yung comments, sobrang lala ng referee ngayon."

The whistle not only halted JRU’s surge but also disrupted their rhythm as the Blazers came away with 73-65 win over the Heavy Bombers, with coach Nani Epondulan obviously needing the veteran presence of Argente down the stretch. 

"Isa rin siguro yung pagkawala ng momentum sa’min kasi yun nga, momentum nasa amin na. Tuloy-tuloy na yung score. Tapos biglang tatawag ng ganong call, parang sobrang cinontrol naman yata yun laro," he added.

Even his first technical earlier in the game left him scratching his head.

"‘Di ko nga rin alam kung saan ako na-technical no’ng una kasi naglalakad lang ako, biglang may tinawag na technical sa’kin. Sabi dinuro ko raw eh wala naman akong dinuduro," Argente explained.

Argente finished with nine points, a rebound, and an assist before his ejection, later watching from the sidelines as his teammates tried to rally without him.

"Siyempre sobrang gigil kasi gustong-gusto kong makatulong sa teammates ko kaso wala, ganon talaga," he said.

Adding to his frustration, Argente could serve a one-game suspension in JRU’s next outing against San Sebastian due to the ejection

Still, the senior guard remains grounded, choosing to look ahead rather than dwell on what happened.

"Sabi ko lang sa kanila is stay on the ground. ‘Wag aakyat sa kanila yung mga panalo kasi first round pa lang naman. Lilipat pa kami sa kabilang bracket tapos babalik pa kami sa bracket namin. So tuloy-tuloy lang yung page-ensayo namin at paghihirap namin."

2025-10-12T10:15:07Z