Narvasa on lady referees: ‘We have to empower women’

First PBA woman referee Janine Nicandro. PBA IMAGES

The PBA, for four decades existence, has never had a woman referee, until Friday.

In the opening game of the Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Colisuem the league’s first lady referee entered the court to officiate the game between Meralco and Phoenix.

Janine Nicandro, a 23-year-old lass from Pagsanjan, Laguna, has earned her stripes after her three-year training in the PBA D-League.

PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa was quite impressed with Nicandro, who even called a swift technical foul on Mark Borboran.

“We have to empower the women, you have to give them respect,” said Narvasa. “They’ve done a lot of progress over the last years, we have to recognize that, they are a part of our society. And if the PBA is able to do that for our men, we should also be able to create programs for them.”

“I’m glad she gave a good account for herself, we have another one, and I’m pretty sure she’s just as good.”

Nicandro is part of the 16-member referee pool of the PBA and Narvasa said he’s hoping for more positive things to come from his new game official.

“I think she knows what she’s doing, we want to encourage her and tell her we’re behind her,” said Narvasa.

And it’s not only the boss who wants Nicandro and other lady referees to succeed, the PBA Board of Governors are also optimistic of the league’s new move.

“Actually they [the governors] encourage it,” said Narvasa. “They’re very very encouraging and supportive.”