PBA explains late offensive basket interference call on Mo Tautuaa in Game 1

The series opener between TNT and San Miguel in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals on Sunday saw its share of controversy.

With 56 seconds left in the game, San Miguel big man Mo Tautuaa missed a slam dunk attempt, but got the lucky bounce to give the Beermen a 98-97 lead after trailing by as much as 24 earlier in the game. 

But after an official review during a dead ball situation, the made shot was ruled as offensive basketball interference, leading to the two points being deducted from San Miguel’s score.

That turned a 98-97 lead for the Beermen into a one-point deficit, 97-96, at the 6.2-second mark of the fourth period.

TNT, despite going scoreless for more than eight minutes in the final period, was able to salvage a 99-96 win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals.

PBA explains call

According to PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro, the call made was based on a league rule that states that when a player causes vibration to the backboard, the basket will be deemed illegal. 

"As you’ve seen in the replay, when Mo dunked in the last 56 seconds, nahila niya ‘yung ring pababa but the contention of the coaching staff was ‘yung bola was straight and entered the ring," Castro told members of the media minutes after the match.

"Regardless kung may tamaan siyang part ng ring, the fact na nahila niya ‘yung ring pababa is a violation already. Considered na offensive basketball interference."

[As you've seen in the replay, when Mo dunked in the last 56 seconds, he pulled the ring down but the contention of the coaching staff was the ball went straight and entered the ring... Regardless of if he hit part of the ring, the fact that he pulled the ring down is a violation already, it's considered offensive basketball interference.]

Castro also explained why the call was made late, saying they had been reviewing the shot while the game was ongoing but was only able to announce the correction during the dead ball situation when Chriss Ross and Jordan Heading figured in a jump ball. 

"It so happened na tuloy-tuloy ‘yung game, there was no dead ball. And then around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross," Castro added.

[It so happened that the game kept going, there was no dead ball. And then around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross.]

"So that was the only time that we could review, but we’re reviewing it, but it was just the time that we’re able to announce it through our barker."

'Let the game decide the game'

Tautuaa, though, criticized the call, especially as it spoiled San Miguel’s comeback effort after the Beermen unleashed a wild 19-0 run late in the fourth. 

"That’s the exact opposite of a right call. Let the game decide the game. It’s simple," Tautuaa said.

"Last series, we thought a goaltending happened and they didn’t review it because we stole the ball right after. We feel like it’s very subjective. They kinda decided that one for us."

From his perspective, Tautuaa felt he simply missed the dunk, and stressed the touch of the rim was no different to how he did dunks in the past.

"It’s just a missed shot. People touch the rim all the time, especially on a dunk. That’s what happens when you dunk, you touch the rim. And by the time it went in, I was already on the floor," he added.

"Everything was done. I feel like that sucks. That’s a sucky way to lose."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News