UAAP Commissioner junks FEU protest, upholds Ateneo win
UAAP Commissioner Andy Jao on Tuesday upheld Ateneo’s 68-64 win over Far Eastern University last Saturday. The Tamaraws placed that game under protest on Monday before it was junked by Jao. MARK GIONGCO
MANILA, Philippines — UAAP Commissioner Andy Jao on Tuesday junked Far Eastern University’s protest and upheld Ateneo’s 68-64 win in overtime last Saturday.
The Tamaraws placed their loss to the Blue Eagles under protest Monday citing “misapplication” of rules on video replay.
But Jao stressed there were no rules violated when Ateneo’s Von Pessumal’s basket, which was first deemed as a long two at the 3:20 mark of the fourth quarter, was made a three-pointer.
“The first thing that we have to clear is that the three-point shot was a three-point shot. The referee in this case Mark Garcia raised his hand to signify a three-point attempt,” said Jao, who added that Pessumal was about three inches away from the three-point line.
“My belief is there can be no technicality because everything that we did was within the rule book,” Jao also said.
FEU, in a letter, also questioned the timing when the review was made, saying that “it should’ve been done in the first dead-ball opportunity.”
Jao though, clarified that as per league rules, there are actually three instances where a made basket can be challenged on whether it was a two or a 3-pointer.
“Their next point is no review is allowed after a dead ball situation. But that’s not the rule. The rule is three instances: We can correct that in the first dead ball situation, the first timeout, and before the end of the period as the case may be,” Jao explained.
In that case, Jao said there were no timeouts called and four dead-ball situations have already happened before Pessumal’s shot was changed but the review still happened before the end of the period.
Jao also said that the person designated at the scorer’s table couldn’t clearly see the situation that was going on.
“The scorer did not put in the three points because he did not see the situation as the fans seated near the players bench all stood up,” Jao said, adding that the table officials’ location, where he sits during games, was also moved from the usual center spot to the corner which made it hard for the referees to notice when they were calling their attention.
“That victory of Ateneo is going to be upheld. We cannot penalize the team on something that is correct. We have to correct it. We knew we’re going to correct it was just at that period, it so happened at that period that was the only time the referees came to us to acknowledge the fact that we should correct the two-point shot to a three-point shot.”
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