UAAP slaps indefinite suspension on erring referee

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=125539

 

The University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) punished a veteran basketball referee Thursday after the league's board found out it did not follow rules during Saturday's game between the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws.

The UAAP Technical Committee and Commissioner's Office indefinitely suspended veteran referee Brian Tabañag after it was found he made two controversial calls on the FEU squad - a technical foul for Coach Glenn Capacio for "excessive complaining," and an unsportsmanlike foul on Marc Barroca - and for not calling a foul on Jayvee Casio for blocking Benedict Fernandez's three-point attempt.

The controversial calls and non-call made possible for the DLSU team to pull away with an 11-point lead within the last two minutes of the game. The game ended with the Archers winning over the Tams, 73-62.

The Commissioner's Office, headed by UAAP Commissioner Chito Narvasa, said the suspension was because Tabañag did not follow the commissioner's guidelines for an endgame situation and for a game's last two minutes.

The office said they expected a "higher" caliber of officiating from the veteran official because he is already considered a "class A" referee in the league.

The suspension came out through a memo, which came out after the Technical Committee and the Commissioner's Office reviewed the officiating incident for four days.

The UAAP Board, however, said the event was not a type of game fixing, after rumors spread that the commissioner's office has ruled it as such.

"The UAAP board condemns all acts of malice done by any player or official involved in the games. We would like to preserve our integrity. We commend also the commissioner for their swift action," UAAP Secretary-Treaurer Dean Hercules Calanta said.

"Gusto naming i-klaro na hindi game fixing ang naging issue kundi hindi pagsunod sa patakaran ng commissioner's office dahil ng hindi dapat mga tawag ng referee ang magde-decide ng outcome ng game, at dapat ‘yong mga player sa court," he added.

The board added they are condemning the "bad quality" of officiating by the referee because upholding the league's integrity is important.

The FEU team, meanwhile, did not hide their dismay regarding the incident.

"Nayari kami talaga sa game na ‘yon, pero ganoon na talaga ‘yong resulta ng game at kailangan naming tanggapin, pero natutuwa naman kaming mabilis yung aksyon ng commissioner," said Anton Montinola, FEU's board member at the UAAP Board.

DLSU refused to give a comment.

The UAAP Technical Committee said it expects the suspension to serve as a warning for other officials to maintain the high quality of officiating to maintain the high level of competition and integrity of the league. With a report from TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News

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Sana lang ang makabasa nito magiisip muna bago magcomment sa parehong schools involved. Kahit nasa history na nila (ng isang school) un, nde sa lahat ng oras ganun sila. Things change, People Change. Malay natin, fault tlga ng referee. Hindi  ba yang NABRO na yan nagkalat na  rin last season? Un lang.