The NCAA made history on Tuesday as a foreign referee took the court to officiate the semifinals Game 1 clash between San Beda University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Abdulla Marzouk Alhejaili from Saudi Arabia was among the three officials who oversaw the match between the Red Lions and Blazers, joining local FIBA referees Aaron Rey Cañete and Totie Celeste, as San Beda pulled off a 91-72 win to move on cusp of a finals return.
Management Committee chairman Melchor Divina of Mapua University revealed that the move stemmed from an earlier proposal by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
"Nag-propose ang SBP na magkaro’n ng foreign international referees actually sa NCAA at sa UAAP. Nag-agree naman ang NCAA sa SBP na magkaro’n kaya nagakaro’n ng paguusap," Divina told GMA News Online on Tuesday.
"Ayon, first time na nangyari na sa isang collegiate ay nagkaro’n ng isang foreign international referee kasi nag-a-adapt na rin tayo sa FIBA rules e."
(The SBP proposed to have foreign international referees actually in the NCAA and UAAP. The NCAA agreed with the SBP that we should have those discussions... And there, it's the first time in the collegiate ranks that a foreign international referee called a game because we're adapting to FIBA rules.)
Divina added that the move is part of the league’s ongoing efforts to gradually adapt and align with FIBA standards in a bid to improve the quality of its games.
According to Divina, Alhejaili will call games until the championship round of the seniors division.
"‘Yun nga, dahil nga international referee siya magkakaro’n ng dagdag quality kasi international ‘to e. Para sa akin, tignan natin kung talagang makakatulong sa officiating," Divina said.
(There, because he is an international referee, there will be a rise in quality because he's international-level. For me, let's see if this can really help the officiating.)
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—JMB, GMA Integrated News
