First lady referee graces PBA D-League

Mary Jane Umaña. Photo from PBA D-League Facebook.

MANILA, Philippines—Forget about the 10 men chasing each other and focus on the sidelines, yes, that was a lady referee.

Meet Mary Jane Umaña,  the first-ever lady referee for the PBA D-League.

She ia the first lady referee to officiate a top-flight men’s basketball game in a Philippine league in a long while when she worked the KeraMix-LiverMarin game of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

According to Spin.ph, Sheila Petallo was the first lady referee to officiate a Philippine basketball game in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.

PBA Media Bureau Chief Willie Marcial told Spin.ph that the league has embarked on the program where lady referees will eventually work in the PBA.

“There’s a plan,” Marcial said. “Let’s look at the D-League first and if it’s ok, we put them in the PBA.”