Challenge system up in ‘PBA on Tour’

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. –INQUIRER PHOTO

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coaches will get a chance to finally test the long-clamored challenge system during a series of exhibition games that starts later this month.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said that this will be done along with other proposed rule changes during a two-month series dubbed as “PBA on Tour,” where the league will determine if they are fit to be added when the 48th season opens in October.

“The league will take the opportunity to implement new rules and new interpretations with the objective of improving the PBA game and make it even more exciting,” Marcial said on Thursday.

Marcial had earlier said that the challenge system will likely gain the nod of approval by the league’s board of governors, especially in the aftermath of last season’s game between TNT and Magnolia in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Coach Chot Reyes was incensed when TNT suffered a 94-92 loss to Magnolia in early-October when Calvin Oftana’s foul with his team in penalty during the dying seconds resulted in Paul Lee’s game-winning free throws.

Had a challenge system been put in place, Reyes and the Tropang Giga would have been given an opportunity to let game officials see if the call can be reversed.

The addition of the challenge rule was warmly welcomed by assistant coaches of each team during Wednesday’s meeting at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City.

Other proposals to be used are rules on goaltending, timing device and double foul regulations.

PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro said a proposal to eliminate the option of players to call a timeout, a rule that exists in Fiba (International Basketball Federation) competitions, was thumbed down by the coaches.

The PBA tour, held to make up for the reduction of the 2023-24 season to two conferences due to the country’s hosting of the Fiba World Cup, will start on May 21 with NLEX facing Blackwater in Caloocan City.

Parañaque City, University of Santo Tomas, Batangas, Dumaguete, Bulacan and Antipolo City are other venues set to host the series.