The PBA is set to implement nine rule changes ahead of its landmark 50th season, including one concerning the controversial basket interference during the recent San Miguel-TNT Philippine Cup Finals.
With the new season comes new rules.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial announced nine rule changes during the press conference for PBA Season 50 on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The most prominent of which could have San Miguel fans scratching their heads.
Remember Mo Tautuaa’s offensive basket interference that cost the Beermen Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals?
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The controversial call drew the ire of the Beermen and not a few spectators after Tautuaa’s dunk with 56.1 ticks left to play was ruled as such, resulting in a nullified basket.
The supposed basket saw the ball go straight up before going in, initially gave San Miguel a 98-97 lead.
But it was later nullified after the technical committee had the chance to review the play during a dead-ball situation in the dying seconds.
“It just so happened na tuluy-tuloy 'yong game, there was no dead ball. Tapos around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross… We’ve been reviewing it habang live ball, but that’s the only time we're able to announce it to our barker, the correction,” said then deputy commissioner Eric Castro.
Under new league rules, Marcial said the committee will no longer review a potential goal tending or basket interference if there’s no call by the referees.
“Matik dapat tawagan ng referee. Pero oras na di tawagan ng referee, offensive or defensive, stay,” he told the some members of the PBA Press Corps after the preseason press conference.
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This was only among the nine rule changes the PBA is implementing in the league’s golden season.
Marcial also said during a coaching challenge, the players can now form a huddle with their coaches.
The league is also adapting the FIBA rule in which a shooter is allowed to catch his own ball after an airball.
“Kapag tumira, legit na tira, tapos kumapos, nakuha ko, live ball. Parang FIBA yun, legal yun. Basta natural natira ah, di yung sinadya na tatakbo [tapos kukunin]. Discretion ng referee,” Marcial said.
The season-opening Philippine Cup unfurls on Oct. 5, pitting Magnolia agianst Ginebra in a much-anticipated “Manila Clasico” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.