PBA admits ref’s error, vows improvement

Sean Anthony (middle) of NorthPort had a crucial three-pointer disqualified in his team’s close defeat to Phoenix. —PBA IMAGES

The Philippine Basketball Association will continue to work on its officiating even as it admitted that one of its officials erred in making a crucial call during Wednesday night’s match between Phoenix and NorthPort.

Batang Pier forward Sean Anthony’s three-point shot was nullified with 48 seconds remaining and he was charged with an offensive foul—his sixth—as Phoenix escaped with a 98-96 victory.

“We’re continuously taking steps to improve officiating through reviews and regular practices,” operations and technical director Eric Castro told the Inquirer at the heels of the league’s admission of the wrong call on Thursday.

“Upon review of the video of the February 27, 2019 game between Northport Batang Pier and Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, the PBA Technical Group had come to the conclusion and admits that the Offensive Foul called by one of the referees against Northport’s Sean Anthony, during the last 47.8 seconds of the 4th quarter of the game, was a wrong call,” the league said in a statement.

The statement added that the erring official will also be sanctioned.

Castro and supervisor of officials Bong Pascual hold regular practices for referees every Tuesday and Thursday and will increase review sessions to make referees aware of mistakes they make during games.

Coach Pido Jarencio was highly critical of the call, telling reporters after the match: “Referees don’t decide the game. Let the players win the game and lose the game.”

“Last one minute then you call offensive foul? And in the video, it’s so clear that there was none,” added Jarencio.

NorthPort would have led by three after Anthony’s triple. Instead, possession went to Phoenix. Matthew Wright was later slapped an offensive foul in the next play, but the Batang Pier could not convert after that.

Jason Perkins sealed the victory with two free throws.

“It’s a lose-lose situation so I’d rather not comment on it. I’m trusting the PBA office to look into it. I got to reserve my comment because nothing I can say can change anything and I don’t want get in trouble,” Anthony told the press.

Even Wright felt NorthPort drew a bad break.

“It was ugly. I honestly felt we deserved to lose that game,” he said. “I didn’t see a foul when Sean Anthony hit the shot. I guess when they called a foul on me, that was a make up call.

“But I feel like it was a very strange game, very inconsistent but someone had to win and I’m just happy that we were lucky enough to win this game even without Stanley (Pringle) playing,” he added.

“Rest assured that the PBA Technical Group holds impartiality, transparency, fairness and integrity as prime values in officiating and with only what is best for the league and its fans in mind,” the league said in its statement.