New framework in officiating stays, says PBA commissioner

The Philippine Basketball Association opened its 36th season with fewer fouls and more exciting action.

Take the game between Meralco and crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra, for instance. The two teams combined for only 29 fouls, the fewest in years in the pro league, and the outcome was decided by a point ,with the newest member of the PBA winning, 73-72. Three weeks later, a total of 60 fouls were called during the game between Powerade and Barako Bull, and questions were raised on whether any changes were happening in the league this early. Is the league reverting to its previous rules and taking away the ‘no harm on the play’ principle being implemented just recently? PBA commissioner Chito Salud shed light on the incidental changes. “The new framework stays," Salud told GMANews.TV in an interview. “We’re sticking to the new guidelines. What the referees are doing right now is to educate the players and the teams per se on instances where they will call a foul and instances of let-go situations." Salud said the number of fouls committed during the Barako Bull-Powerade game was just incidental, as the referees had to blow their whistle on holding fouls. “There was a lot of holding happening, particularly at the low post, so the referees called fouls just to let the players and the coaches know that things like that cannot be let go," added Salud, a second-generation commissioner of the pro league. The son of former PBA commissioner Atty. Rudy Salud also defended the referees, who he said were doing their best to be consistent in making calls. “I would like to clarify that this new framework gives leeway on defense by eliminating the touch fouls, but it also protects the offense, particularly the shooter," said the younger Salud. “The new rules don’t trigger rough plays, but instead teach players to play honest defense. It also allows freedom of movement." New rules a work-in-progress The new framework, according to Salud, is a work-in-progress for everyone. “I’ve been getting different reactions regarding this new framework and I’ve been expecting that. But the new rules in officiating are a work-in-progress for all of us." Bo Perasol, head coach of the Powerade Tigers, agreed with the commissioner. “Yes, it is indeed a work-in-progress. The vision will always be there, no doubt about it, and I support the vision of the commissioner. But still, we know that it won’t be easy. Having a vision is the easier part, but how we will do it is the hardest part," said Perasol, whose team won two of its first three games in the Philippine Cup. “But the question here is does he have the personnel to do it?" added Perasol. Newly-installed B-Meg Derby Ace coach Jorge Gallent has a different point of view. “Very inconsistent," said Gallent in a telephone interview. “I believe the vision of Commissioner Salud is good as long as the referees are on the same page. But the referees were calling it inconsistently. For example, Joel Ngo keeps on blowing his whistle even if there’s marginal contact, while the other refs were letting it go." Gallent, who took over the coaching reins for B-Meg Derby Ace after Ryan Gregorio was named the new mentor of the Meralco Bolts, also added that even coaches were having a difficult time with the new set of rules. “We’re having a hard time. We don’t know how we will defend. Are we going to be called a foul or not? I do hope the referees would adjust quickly to the direction of the commissioner," added Gallent, whose team lost all its three games to remain as the only winless squad in the tournament. Adjustment is one crucial aspect the league should also look at. “If we’re still a work-in-progress, then that’s bad for the league because the league has already started. They should have done that more in the off-season and adjustments should have been made prior to the start of the season. My only hope is that the referees would adjust quickly now that the season is ongoing," said Gallent. - KY, GMANews.TV