Lyceum head coach Topex Robinson. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
NCAA deputy commissioner Atty. Rebo Saguisag said the league has created a 40-man pool of referees from the Basketball Referees Association for Schools, Colleges and University in hopes to have a unified interpretation of rules.
The 93rd Season of the NCAA opens on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Last year, the league had three separate groups in its officiating team under the guidance of then-commissioner Andy Jao.
“This year, we tapped BRASCU because we want consistency and one interpretation of our rules,” said Saguisag, who filled in for commissioner Arturo “Bai” Cristobal during the PSA Forum on Tuesday at Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.
Saguisag also said the NCAA will revert back to Fiba ruling with the application of possession arrow instead of jump balls in the last two minutes.
“We agreed in principle that we will return to the possession arrow rule the whole game,” said Saguisag.
The league will also retain its rule on hand checking.
“You can not use your hands to prevent offensive players from moving because we believe that talent should come through and we will not allow dirty tactics and hand checking to prevent that,” he said.
Players and coaches will also be given more room to react on calls.
“We will not slap automatic warning or technical foul based on the initial reaction of a player or coach because we want to give them a chance to control their emotion and we don’t like the league with robots and not playing with human element, which is the beauty of sports,” said Saguisag.
“Of course, there are boundaries and we will punish people who will cross the line,” he added.