by Dave Albarado
The Need to Improve PBA’s Officiating
Game 3 of the Magnolia Hotshots -TNT Tropang Giga was one of the most controversial games we have ever seen in the PBA in recent memory.
The reality is that PBA officiating remains one of the most sensitive subjects and criticisms by those who are involved in the league may result in a fine. The truth of the matter is: the PBA leadership has been turning a blind eye to the clamor from coaches and fans to improve officiating.
So, how come the PBA has no challenge calls?
To those who are unfamiliar with challenge calls, these happen when a coach challenges the call of a referee. The goal of a challenge is to overturn the call, which a coach sees to be something should not have been called in the 1st place. The downside is when the call is sustained after the challenge—then a penalty will be assessed against the team. Depending on the league, the penalty can range from a technical foul or a time out will be deducted from the team’s allotment for the game.
The NBA has already adopted the challenge call system; the local Premier Volleyball League is also using a form of challenge call system. Major leagues in the United States including grand slam professional tennis are also using a form of the challenge call system.
Yet, the PBA is adamant to put in place such system because according to PBA commissioner Willy Marcial, the league has been reviewing a lot of calls already even without the challenge call. Out of bounds plays that are questionable within the last 2 minutes of the final quarter of a game can be reviewed. Flagrant fouls are also subject to automatic review on the floor. The PBA has a post-game review similar to what the NBA is doing—but there is nothing close to a challenge call system in the PBA.
Marcial said that it will take significant investment on the part of the league to come up with a system to detect every angle of a certain play so that there could be a piece of evidence to support the referee’s call or the coach’s challenge.
Marcial’s explanation shows the kind of myopic outlook the PBA has. The PBA must invest in technology to improve its officiating. The PBA is not seeing the picture here, much like some of its referees who couldn’t make the right call.
Investing to make the officiating better is a way to build trust. If trust is built and strengthened then fans will appreciate the league and they will patronize the PBA by watching the games live or on television.
Officiating is important and the proof is to watch the replay of Game 3 and one will realize how messy the officiating was and how it can end up discouraging fans from watching the PBA.