GAME 3 of the best-of-5 quarterfinals series of the PBA Governors’ Cup between Rain or Shine and Magnolia ended like a winner-take-all seventh match last Sunday night.

Elasto Painters’ coach Yeng Guiao and Hotshots counterpart Chito Victolero turned emotional, yelling at the referees for what they felt were fouls each time their players fell down hard on the refurbished floor of the Ynares Center here.

And then the complaints.

“Daming nami-miss na tawag ng referees. Kapag ganoon, lahat ng involved sa laro must perform to their utmost best, players and referees,” Guiao said. “Kasi baka ikaw ang makasira ng magandang laro kung mali ang itatawag mo.

“We demand that from the referees because that’s their duty. Trabaho nila iyon. Sana magawa nila ng maayos,” Guiao added after his charges scored a dramatic 111-106 overtime win to grab a 2-1 lead in the race-to-3 showdown.

Victolero went bananas after Hotshots forward Zavier Lucero attacked the basket, only for rising Rain or Shine counterpart Jhonard Clarito foiling the shot.

Magnolia guard Jerrick Ahanmisi then fouled Gian Mamuyac before the referees reviewed the previous play and ruled that Clarino made a goaltending violation and counted Lucero’s for a 106-106 standoff.

The foul on Ahanmisi, however, stayed and Mamuyac split his free throws.

Victolero stressed that Ahanmisi would not have fouled Mamuyac if the referees promptly made the goaltending call.

Guiao thought otherwise.

“Magulo talaga actually. Pero nasunod naman ang rules doon. Pagka-goaltend talaga at hindi natawagan ng referee, puwedeng i-review. Ni-review naman nila. Nakita nilang goaltend. Wala kaming reklamo nu’ng sinabi nilang counted,” Guiao said. “Pero since mayroon nang naganap na action, may tatawagan na silang foul, that foul should still be in effect. Kasi iyon ang rules. Iyon naman ang rules. Kapag may tawag na ni-review, kung anong nangyari after that stays effective.

“Ang hindi natupad na rules, iyong puwede ka pa lang magwala ng magwala na hindi ka tine-technical. Kitang kita ng lahat, lahat ng nanonood ng basketball, iyong ginagawa ni coach Chito, of course, kaibigan natin si coach Chito at ganoon din ako minsan. Pero kung ako ang gumawa noon, sigurado akong technical.

“Nagtataka ako bakit hindi matawag-tawagan ng technical kasi disadvantage sa amin iyon na hindi mo tatawagan ng technical na dapat siyang tawagan ng technical. Tinatanong ko iyong referee kanina, bakit hindi tinatawagan, wala siyang masagot. Ewan ko, kung ako gumawa noon, siguradong technical.”

Game 4 is set today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, with Rain or Shine going for the jugular.

A deciding fifth tiff, if necessary, will be played on Saturday also in Antipolo.

Painters import Aaron Fuller bucked a left eye injury (torn cornea) he suffered from an Ian Sangalang hit in an embarrassing 69-121 loss in Game 2 and uncorked 29 points and 11 rebounds.

Clarito added 18 markers while Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, Leonard Santillan, and Beau Bela had 15, 15, 13, and 10, respectively, for Rain or Shine.

“Aaron just provided us with a lot of inspiration and energy,” Guiao said. “They (players) know what he went through. He was doubtful all the way up to the afternoon, but he told our trainers he was feeling better and he wanted to play.

“Warrior talaga itong si Aaron. Tahimik lang siya but he plays with a big heart. He’s able to control his emotions and carry our team on his shoulder. Hindi naman kami makakarating dito at mananalo sa larong ito kung hindi siya naglaro talaga.”

Pro league fans now await more drama to unfold today.