Refereeing a basketball game is no joke. You’re constantly under pressure to make decisions, moving quickly and getting into position while everybody else is likewise moving and making contact. We’ve said that the only time you know you’ve done a good job is when only half of the people complain. But so far, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has had multiple incidents of referees losing command and control of the game.
It started with the pay gap between male and female referees. It would not have been so bad if it wasn’t reported that the salaries of female referees were decreased in favor of their male counterparts. This already cast the spotlight on the league, getting the wrong kind of attention.
Next came the Adamson-UP game three weeks ago, where confusion resulted in the Falcons only having four players on the floor for 10 seconds. It magnified the impression that the referees did not have full command of what was going on. No infractions, just an error that could’ve been avoided.
This week came the exclamation point. As University of the East was gunning for its first win in six games, a loose ball scramble resulted in what was whistled as an unsportsmanlike foul against Red Warrior Wello Lingolingo, causing injury to De La Salle’s Kean Baclaan. Lingolingo’s foul caused his disqualification after scoring 24 points, UE blows a 21-point lead, and DLSU wins in overtime. Lingolingo was later slapped a three-game suspension, all but dooming UE.
Refereeing is all about timing, positioning and judgment. The question of decision-making leaves the officiating in question. It leaves doubts as to the preparedness and even capability of the whistle-blowers. It is seriously hurting the UAAP’s image, but it can be fixed. UAAP basketball commissioner Jai Reyes has the experience and intelligence to rectify matters by improving the training of refs, even mid-season. It is also possible to expand the pool of officials, and most importantly, reprimand or suspend those in error.
Calling basketball games is decidedly human, and mistakes will never be completely avoided. But, judgment can be improved, gravitas can be earned, emotions controlled. At times, it is also a question of qualification. Referees earn their living by the volume of games they call in and outside the league. That may be worth monitoring, as well. If the referees are also working other leagues and games where they have more power, it may color their overall capability. The level of organization and competition will not be consistent, allowing for more latitude in committing errors.
We could say that officiating is – pardon the pun – a calling, a commitment. Therefore, as a whole, the UAAP basketball organization has to strengthen their commitment to doing a good job. Mistakes are regrettable, but faith in the technical officials can be restored if these errors can be avoided from this point on. Unfortunately, the heat of the spotlight is already on them.