UP group urges UAAP to tap third-party observers, use tech to improve officiating
A group of University of the Philippines alumni is urging the UAAP to hire “third-party observers” and adopt technology to improve its officiating on the heels of the Maroons’ 73-71 win over Adamson in the Final Four last Sunday.
NowheretogobutUP Foundation chairperson Atty. Agaton Uvero said that the UAAP should do more to evaluate the performance of its referees and through technology track the calls made by them.
“We believe the UAAP should put an emphasis on improving the officiating and assuring the players and fans that they are doing everything to keep the game pure,” said Uvero.
The alumni group earlier tapped “referee-consultants” for the Maroons’ last two games, both crucial, to observe the officiating and according to the initial report, said Uvero, some calls in the UP-Adamson “may have had an impact on the outcome of the game.”
The consultants noted a “disturbing” disparity in the fouls called, with the Maroons incurring 25 fouls and the Falcons 12. But it was also the “quality and timing” of the calls that they believe were “bothersome.”
According to statistics released by the UAAP, UP players were called for eight fouls while Adamson four in the nip-and-tuck payoff period. In total, Adamson also took 31 freethrows, 19 times more than UP.
“The calls in the fourth quarter, really changed the complexion of the game. Sana tingnan talaga ng UAAP, nakakabahala,” said Uvero.
The group also brought to view the history of referee Ariel Bermeo, one of the officials in that Final Four Game.
Bermeo was reportedly suspended from the UAAP in 2010 for “bad calls” during a controversial game between UP and National University and was cut from the PBA’s roster of referees in 2013 “for serious repeated lapses in judgment in different games they officiated during the playoffs.”
For its part, UP has already started a “referee tracking program” done by its video analysis team to “objectively assess the performance of referees working the UAAP’s games.”
