pba-commissioner-sonny-barrios
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The much awaited result of the Air21 protest was known today as PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios rejected Air21′s request for a replay.

As a San Miguel Beermen fan, the decision was a very welcome news as we preserved our win and there’s no need for a rematch. Why would SMB suffer for someone else fault?

However, I was not happy as to how the PBA Commissioner issued their official statement. Quoting his first statement:

“While the error happened with only 9.8 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, the turn of events made the game go into a second overtime period and effectively provided five more minutes for Air21 to recover from the negative effects of the error,” Barrios said.

This clearly does not provide a convincing answer for me as to why he ruled it that way. I am expecting that he would give an answer that will pinpoint how Air21 was not able to follow the necessary procedures in contesting the challenge. The way he answered it was based on his comparisons with the other previous protest. Well, I can’t blame Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez with his reaction.

Moral of the story: Don’t let the game officials dictate the outcome of the game. How? The coaching staffs should be alert at all times.

Mr. Waylon Galvez of Manila Bulletin Online (mb.com.ph) tells us the full coverage of this news story.

Barrios rejects Air21’s protest, rules no replay

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios yesterday turned down the protest filed by Air21 for a replay of its controversial double overtime defeat to San Miguel Beer last week saying the officials’ error in not counting a three-point shot did not alter the outcome of the game.

“While the error happened with only 9.8 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, the turn of events made the game go into a second overtime period and effectively provided five more minutes for Air21 to recover from the negative effects of the error,” Barrios said.

The decision came five days after San Miguel won in double OT, 130-129, and four days after Air21 filed a protest with a corresponding P20,000 bond as required by PBA rules on filing protests.

Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez expressed indignation over the decision of Barrios and questioned the commissioner’s knowledge of basketball.

“Baka hind niya naiintindihan ang basketball,” Alvarez said in a phone interview when sought for comment. “The fact still remains na kung nung first OT pa lang eh itinama na ang tawag, baka hindi na napunta sa second OT.”

With the Beermen ahead, 110-108, Ranidel de Ocampo’s three-pointer found its mark with 9.8 seconds left but referee Mario Montiel, the nearest to the Air21 forward, counted it as just a two-point basket.

“When I spoke to the commissioner, he admitted that it was a three-pointer. Even the technical crew said it was a three. Hindi na nga namin hinihingi ’yung panalo, all we wanted is a replay,” Alvarez said.

Referee Montiel admitted that he was “aligned” directly behind De Ocampo and had no vantage position to determine if the shot was a clear three.

“We wish to reiterate that in the determination of protests filed with our Office, the PBA has over the years consistently leaned towards rigidity in upholding the finality of actual game results unless the facts and the rules clearly indicate otherwise,” Barrios said.

“To our mind, hurting as it may be at times, the policy weighs heavier in the long term consideration of the overall good,” he added.

Under existing PBA rules officials may not change the score even after reviewing the shot. Both the referees and technical officials — upon review of the tapes — cannot correct a shot made in the final two minutes of the fourth and in OT.

A call can only be changed if there is an official challenge from a team’s head coach and only during a dead ball situation.

Air21 coach Bo Perasol said that he asked Montiel about the shot but the referee maintained that there was no official challenge made.

“Understandably, the dead ball situation between the basket conversion and the throw-in by San Miguel Beer did not give enough practical time for your team to manifest a valid ‘challenge’” Barrios said in his decision.

League records show that only two protested games had been ordered replayed: Shell and Purefoods (March 17, 1991) and Talk N Text and Barangay Ginebra (March 21, 2003).

Barrios said that both those games involved technical errors as both matches were decided by last second shots in which the losing party had no time to recover from the technical error.

However, Barrios said the incident was an eye-opener and will be used to improve some existing rules.

“This episode has however, opened our eyes to the need to revisit our present rules regarding game video review and challenges. We have to devise a mechanism that would allow the correction of such a glaring error, what with the technology that is available to us of course without unnecessarily disrupting the flow of the game,” Barrios said.