Narvasa: I’ll put order in court

TOKYO—Chito Narvasa believes that he’s got the formula to finally make officiating click in the PBA.

When the pro league enters its 41st season on Oct. 18, officials will have zero discretionary powers and will make calls as they happen—a formula Narvasa believes will clear the confusion that has made for bad officiating in the past.

“I will put order in the (basketball) court,” Narvasa on Wednesday afternoon said with a smile, borrowing a line his late father, the former Supreme Court Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, often used.

“How it’s going to be done, we have plans,” Narvasa said. “I will explore that with the coaches. I want this to be long-term. If they (coaches) think there’s room for improvement, then let’s improve.

“I will be fair, but I will be firm.”

Narvasa coached in the PBA for five years with Shell and Purefoods and is proud to say that during that time, he was slapped just one technical foul which was later on reversed by late commissioner Jun Bernardino.

Prior to taking on the job as commissioner, Narvasa’s last involvement in organized basketball was during the 2007 UAAP also as commissioner.

“I think the discretionary power of the referees is just too broad,” he explained. “That’s why there have been different interpretations of the rules. That’s why there’s confusion, and that’s the only thing consistent in all the games I’ve seen.”

Narvasa already sat at courtside in the latter part of the Governors’ Cup when his appointment was announced, but officially took over only this month.

The former banker believes that complaints coming from coaches will be reduced because of this, adding he would also like to implement a rule that will only allow coaches to speak to him after the game and not during it.

“All of the (current) coaches are my friends,” he said. “They know I will do it and I will spare no one.”

Narvasa will also be in charge of all the trades that will happen and promised everyone that he will be fair, especially in handling deals involving sister teams that use other clubs as conduits.

“I will always look at the end results in deciding on trades,” said Narvasa, who flew back to Manila together with team governors on Thursday night.