Controversial calls bring to light one of PBA’s biggest problems

Meralco Bolts coach Luigi Trillo argues with a referee during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals game against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Officiating was put under heavy scrutiny during the recent Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals and the PBA acknowledged that there is a lot to be desired when it comes to how games are being called.

“One of our major, major issues in the last 50 years is the conduct of the games or refereeing,” PBA chair Ricky Vargas said during the recent unveiling of the logo for the league’s golden anniversary.

Two referees had been suspended by the PBA following calls that marred Game 1 of the Converge-Rain or Shine series and the deciding Game 3 of the latest Barangay Ginebra-Meralco playoff chapter.

Coach Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine was upset with the way his import Deon Thompson fouled in the best-of-three opener. Thompson was called for three fouls in a matter of two minutes, including twice for landing spot infractions that led to his disqualification from the rest of that contest which the ElastoPainters eventually lost.

“It’s really strange and unfair,” Guiao said in Filipino after that game. Thompson and Rain or Shine eventually adjusted, winning the next two games without dealing with foul trouble to set up a best-of-seven semifinals duel with TNT.

Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic, meanwhile, had an outburst, something that has not been seen in his tenure with the Bolts, when he was ejected for a second technical foul after import Akil Mitchell was called for an offensive foul.

The play in question was when Mitchell was whistled while jockeying for position with Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee as Bong Quinto was going for a layup with 5:41 left in the fourth and Meralco down 77-72, prompting Vucinic to lose his cool.

Vucinic was tossed, but not before Meralco challenged the call, which was eventually reversed after the review.

“He got thrown out because he had a point, that that was the wrong call,” Meralco guard Chris Newsome said. “But even if he had a point and he was right, the technical threw him out of the game and he didn’t have a chance to get back even when the call was wrong.”

Referees suspended

Both referees were suspended following a performance review by league officials, but officiating remains a hot topic among fans and several players in the aftermath of the quarters.

“It sucks that we got the receiving end, but that’s something the league has to look into,” added Newsome.

Vargas said the league is “looking at [refereeing] seriously” as part of the goals to make the PBA more viable for the next 50 years.

These issues, however, are expected to be put under the microscope once more when the Commissioner’s Cup resumes play on Feb. 26 with the semifinal openers of the TNT-Rain or Shine and NorthPort-Ginebra series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“There must be a way where we can actually have an objective performance management, there must be a way where we can bring in local training which includes bringing SBP advisors in this process. And there must be a way to be able to hire referees,” said Vargas.