PBA's 2nd biggest spot (July 5, 1979)

Bulletin Today sports editor Lito Fernandez with his take officiating woes that have prompted the Games and Amusements Board to take over in the selection of game officials for the remainder of the 1979 PBA All-Filipino championship series.

PBA’s 2nd biggest spot

THE NEUTRAL CORNER

By Lito P. Fernandez

Bulletin Today

Published Thursday July 5, 1979

Next to suspected game-fixing and point-shaving, what ails the Philippine Basketball Association most is poor officiating.

This particular problem has been the cause of complaints not only from the players and team officials but also from fans, whose tremendous support has made the PBA the No. 1 sports attraction in the country.

The PBA, we believe, has not been remiss in its duty to improve officiating. Seminars are being held, fines, suspensions and demotions are being imposed on the erring referees, and reprimands are being given.

Despite all these, bad officiating continues to rear its ugly head to the dismay of everybody. It seems poor officiating has become part of the PBA; like a parasite that clings and feeds on the body.

Just recently a coach, showing his disgust over what he felt was bad officiating, mockingly called on the team’s water boy twice to substitute for a fouled-out player.

And only two nights ago, Toyota Coach Fort Acuna, normally tight-lipped over officiating, opened up and minced no words in lambasting the officiating in the third game of the Crispa-Toyota championship series, which he described as “lousy, partial and inconsistent.”

Acuna’s views were shared by many, including those who rained debris on the court when the referees started making controversial calls.

Definitely those calls ruined a beautiful match that had the fans at the Araneta Coliseum and thousands of televiewers on the edge of their seats. In a game like this, one call could change the complexion of the match.

Ironically, the Games and Amusements Board had taken over the PBA the power to appoint referees who will officiate the games. According to GAB Chairman Luis Tabuena, the PBA had been formally informed Tuesday morning that GAB was taking over.

It seems that no amount of effort to improve officiating in the PBA will ever succeed, judging from the calls being made by the referees. But this corner is not losing hope, especially now that the GAB has taken control over the referees.

We hope the GAB will succeed where the PBA had failed.