Poland’s head coach Igor Miličić harshly criticized the referees after Poland lost against Finland in the Olympic qualifiers.
Roope Visuri,
Maija Salmi
Susijengi won hard in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Valencia, when the Finnish men’s national basketball team came from 15 points behind to win over Poland with points of 89–88.
The win meant that Finland will continue to the semi-finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament against Spain on Saturday.
The match was very physical. For example, the number one name in Finland Mikael Jantunen provoked the Polish NBA star To Jeremy Sochan for an unsportsmanlike foul for grabbing his leg in the third period.
Poland head coach Igor Miličić barked the referees at the press conference after the game.
– As much as I would like to blame myself and my team for this, the referees should be more consistent, Miličić took initiative.
– I’m not saying that we lost because of the referees. This was a one point game. We could have won. However, this left a sour taste. The players gave their all.
Miličić was hot a minute before the end of the match and had a heated conversation with the referees. The context of the situation remained unclear to TV viewers. Miličić also clarified the situation at the press conference. Even then, it was about criticism of the referees.
– The referees whistled a foul on the other side of the field, which was not a foul. On the other side, they didn’t whistle a foul. It was a similar situation. From the beginning there were questionable situations with intentional mistakes and my challenges. This should not be the case, Miličić said.
Urheilu also asked Finland’s head coach after the match Lassi from Tuov from refereeing. After the match, Tuovi was naturally focused on other things after the handsome victory.
– I don’t remember anything about refereeing today. I just remember the performances of my own players and the expressions in the booth. I only focused on them, Tuovi acknowledged, happy about the wonderful victory.
Tuovi praised how Poland made Susijengi uncomfortable during the first half. The head coach felt that Finland couldn’t get their game started. In the final period, Finland started to have successes. Edon Maxhuni took Finland into the lead with a three-pointer from really far a minute and a half before the end. Poland took the lead once again, but Alexander Madsen completed the winning tally from the free throw line with 18 seconds left.
– We believed in our own doing and cheered each other on. The whole time there was a belief that we would get within striking distance if we managed to do our own thing. Believing and hanging on paid off in the end, Tuovi stated.