The Philippine Basketball Association has suspended senior referee Art Herrera for five game days for an error during the crucial stages of the Rain or Shine-Meralco PBA Commissioner’s Cup game on Tuesday.
Herrera, probably the most senior among all PBA officials now, became the second referee canned in less than a week for making erroneous calls and/or non-calls.
Last Saturday, one of three referees who worked the quarterfinal match between the Elasto Painters and Barangay Ginebra was suspended for the rest of the conference for failing to call a 24-second violation on the Gin Kings which would have prevented Jeff Chan’s game winning layup.
The PBA, however, did not release the name of the first suspended referee. The officials of the game were Peter Balao, Rey Yante and Rommel Gruta.
In Game 1 of the Rain or Shine-Meralco series, Herrera initially counted a three-point shot by Gabe Norwood before nullifying it himself following protests from the Meralco bench.
The PBA said in a short text message that Herrera was suspended for “an error in mechanics and judgment in changing a call.”
The Painters went on to score a 99-86 victory with coach Yeng Guiao later on taking potshots at officiating, telling the officials to “get themselves in one room and talk about what they can do about officiating.”
Meanwhile, Globalport management yesterday denied reports that the Batang Pier were going to trade No. 1 rookie pick Stanley Pringle to Barangay Ginebra for LA Tenorio.
Team manager Bonnie Tan said in a statement that they are going to stick it out with Pringle.
“We’re not trading Pringle to any team,” said Tan in a message e-mailed to media offices. “We’re happy and satisfied with the performance of Pringle.”
While it was Tenorio—with the help of Joseph Yeo—who gave Globalport owner Mikee Romero his title in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the Batang Pier have no intention of taking the 2012 Jones Cup MVP.
“There’s no negotiations undergoing and we will stick with Pringle,” added Tan.
Tenorio, a national team mainstay, is being rumored to be on the trading block as Ginebra, under new coach Frankie Lim, is rebuilding in a bid to change its fortunes for the season ending Governors’ Cup starting on May 5.
Also rumored as a trade candidate is the high flying Chris Ellis, who has underachieved in more than two years with the Gin Kings who have a talent-laden forward rotation.
On Monday, Ginebra dealt away former collegiate stars Dylan Ababou and James Forrester for Barako Bulls’ first pick in the coming draft.