Coaches push for review of PBA new rules

These coaches believe that changing the rules of the game is not the smartest thing to do in the PBA right now.

Red Bull’s Yeng Guiao and Alaska’s Tim Cone, two of the finest and most vocal coaches in the league, have raised serious concerns on the new rules being applied in the Smart Philippine Cup.

“We should revaluate our rules. It’s my opinion – to make an assessment. I’m talking to (other PBA) coaches and they don’t know what a foul is and what a foul is not,” said Guiao.

Guiao, the Pampanga vice governor shouldn’t be the one complaining as his team is up in solo second at 3-1. But he’s taking the cudgels for the others who have chosen to keep quiet.

“I’m still confused with the officiating. I’m not really sure what a foul is and what a foul is not. People are driving to the basket, getting bumped, getting hacked, and still not a foul.

“If we coaches cannot understand what a foul is, what more the public? The public has to understand the game in order to appreciate it,” said Guiao.

The PBA has adopted new rules that jive with the international brand of play, feeling and thinking that it would help the national team in its future campaigns overseas.

On top of the changes is the scrapping of the hand-check foul, giving players all the freedom to defend. But this has led to a lot of pushing and shoving, near-fights and technicals.

“I’m not saying the league is wrong or right in making these adjustments. It’s kind of a game of attrition. Normally, basketball is like a chess match. Now the game is like UFC (ultimate fighting),” said Cone.

“Whichever comes out bloodied at the end of the game might win it. It’s hard to run the offense. We can’t isolate at the post because there’s so much banging, pushing and shoving,” he said.   – Abac Cordero