Lady ref applicant still knocking on PBA door

Imelda Cruz Bolares’ dream of becoming the first lady referee in the Philippine Basketball Association remain exactly that — a dream. Bolares, a 35-year-old former varsity player from Caloocan City, was one of several aspiring PBA game officials who applied recently. Three weeks before the deadline, she remains the only female applicant seeking to join the pro league’s referees’ academy.

But Bolares was found to be ineligible to join it. This was confirmed by Mauro Bengua, one of the members of the league’s technical group, who is also in charge of collecting the application forms of aspirants. “Based on her application, she’s a BS Economics undergraduate. One of the requirements is for an applicant to be a college graduate," said Bengua in a text message. Unlike aspiring PBA players, who are not required to have graduated from college once they enter the Rookie Draft, referees should be college degree holders. “The players’ case is different from that of aspiring referees. Kapag player, at least graduate na dapat siya ng high school four years before he joins the draft. Meaning, yung Batch 2010 of rookies natin ngayon, they must have graduated from high school noong 2006," PBA operations manager Rickie Santos told GMANews.TV. “It’s different with the aspiring referees. We’re doing this because the league wants to maintain a certain standard. A lot of times ‘yung mga referees minumura-mura lang ng mga tao. We need referees who not only have great knowledge of the game of basketball. We also need refs who have the patience and the ability to communicate well with anyone, and who can earn the respect of everyone," added Santos. Bolares' ticket to enter the PBA referees' pool is based on her rich experience in officiating in small-time basketball leagues. She was a former varsity player of Far Eastern University women’s team under coach Jun Tapales, but expressed interest in game officiating as early as 1992 when she joined the Sports Officials Philippines (1992). According to Bolares, she became part of the Basketball Referees’ Commission in 2004, and has joined several other basketball referees’ associations, including the Valenzuela Basketball Referees Association (VABRA). International Referee (IR) Bong Pascual, who’s now one of the leading game officials in the PBA, is the adviser of VABRA. “I have attended several other referees’ trainings and seminars. Si Bong (Pascual) malaki ang naitulong niyan sa amin. Kung saan-saan na rin ako tumatakbong liga," said Bolares. But like other referees she knew, Bolares’ ultimate dream is to make it to the PBA, a dream that remains up in the air for now. “Hindi ko alam na requirement pala ng PBA sa mga aspiring referees 'yung college graduate. Medyo nanghihinayang ako na hindi ako nakatapos. But I’m still hoping na bigyang pansin pa rin ng PBA yung application ko because I really want to prove that I can officiate in the professional league," said Bolares. With the PBA planning to form a D-League (developmental league), more referees will be needed. The PBA will tap officials from its referees’ academy to officiate in some of the games in the D-League. But whether Bolares will be given a chance remains to be seen. “I don’t know if the commissioner will reconsider or give her a chance to join the academy," said Santos. Asked for comments, PBA commissioner Chito Salud said they really want to have lady game officials in the league to draw additional attention. “This will be historic for the league," said Salud, referring to the idea of having lady referees. “I want that to happen. But preferably, we want lady referees who are college degree holders as well." Graham Lim, secretary general of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, had seen the emergence of lady referees in local and international basketball. One of the products of BARECOM, where Lim is an official, was Cristina Columna, a lady international referee. “She was a former national women’s team player, then she expressed her interest in officiating. She’s now an IR. There are several other lady referees officiating in Cebu," said Lim in a telephone interview. - KY, GMANews.TV