Players adjusting to rules

The fuss about the PBA’s crackdown on hand-checking is part of adjustment pains and will soon die down, said a league insider yesterday.

It’s really not fair to pin the blame on PBA technical manager Ramil Cruz and consultant Romy Guevara for the strict application of the no hand-check rule, which is supposed to allow for more explosive slashes to the basket and opportunities for players to showcase their skills.

In fact, Guevara recently disclosed that the coaches asked for it during a pre-conference meeting. The scuttlebutt is in exchange for the no hand-check rule, the league would be more tolerant of traveling violations which seemed to be the favorite call of whistle-blowers in the last conference.

The compromises were meant to preserve the beauty or flow of the game without too many interruptions by referees. Of course, there will be lots of calls at the start as players adjust to the new rules but in the long run, the game will be much more fluid.

Another rule change is eliminating the automatic suspension on a flagrant-two foul for players sticking out their foot in the landing spot of a jumpshooter. However, the rule remains the same where if there is no contact, the call is a flagrant-one and if there is contact, it is a flagrant-two. A flagrant-one foul means two free throws, ball possession and a three-minute sit-out. A flagrant-two foul means two free throws, ball possession, ejection and a possible suspension, discretionary on commissioner Sonny Barrios’ part.

Barrios said the players themselves wanted the league to tighten up on the so-called “landing spot rule” because it involves a dangerous, potentially career-threatening foul.

Any kind of contact, even slight, will merit a flagrant-two foul to avoid subjective interpretation. The touch of the tip of a shoe is contact and while it is insignificant, the call is still a flagrant-two – often raising a howl by the perpetrator as in the case of imports J. J. Sullinger of Coca-Cola and Brian Hamilton of Purefoods.

When Sullinger was ejected in a recent game because of slight contact under the “landing spot” rule, he couldn’t understand it and vehemently protested as he exited the floor. He was summoned to the PBA office the next day.

“At first, he was furious, calling it a stupid rule,” said a league source. “We heard right after he was ejected, he was pounding the door of the Coca-Cola dressing room and calling the PBA a bum league. He just didn’t understand why there’s such a rule. When he was told that the Coca-Cola governor himself pushed for the rule, he kept quiet.”

Meanwhile, PBA media bureau chief and special assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial said the other day he anticipates higher ticket sales this conference with the implementation of the no hand-check rule to make the game even more exciting.

“The no hand checking rule is something players are adjusting to,” said Marcial. “As the conference goes on, you’ll see less fouls called because the players are learning to adjust to the calls and the flow of the game will not be hampered. You’ll notice that lately, teams don’t get into penalty situation until the last few minutes of a quarter. That’s an indication the players are adjusting to the new rules.”

Marcial’s point was borne out by recent game statistics. Last March 6, Burger King shot 28-of-42 free throws in beating Ginebra, 110-106. Last Sunday, Alaska hit 9-of-18 foul shots in defeating Purefoods, 94-84. Although the Alaska-Purefoods game was marked by tough defense, there were few chances to go to the line as the players consciously stayed away from contact situations. The result was less fouls called, less free throws and more flow in the game.

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Boxing promoter Aljoe Jaro was in Cebu to watch the fights at the Waterfront Hotel last Saturday and the speculation was he planed in to offer former IBF minimumweight champion Muhammad Rachman a contract to face his boy Denver Cuello at the Araneta Coliseum on April 19.

Rachman, 37, is no stranger to Jaro. In 2007, Rachman lost the IBF title to Jaro’s protégé Florante Condes on a split 12-round decision in Jakarta. What sealed Rachman’s doom was the two knockdowns he suffered. He would’ve escaped with the title if not for the trips to the canvas. Jaro was in Condes’ corner for the fight and saw how close Rachman came to keeping the belt.

In Cebu, Rachman impressed the fight fans by standing up to unbeaten Milan Melindo and holding his own. The Indonesian came back from a slow start to pull even in the middle rounds but couldn’t stave off Melindo from taking control in the late going. The three judges all scored it for Melindo, 97-93, 98-92, 96-94.

ALA Promotions owner Tony Aldeguer lauded Rachman for his tough stand. Although there was no doubt Melindo deserved the verdict, Aldeguer admitted it was a lot closer than what the scorecards indicated.

“Rachman is a very smart and intelligent fighter,” said Aldeguer. “Give him credit. He started slow to give Milan confidence then got going in the middle rounds. He stuck close to Milan, not giving him the space to counter and throw his combinations. That was his fightplan.”

Aldeguer said it was apparent that Rachman could take Melindo’s punches but if he fought someone like WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes, things will be different.

“Before Donnie beat (Erik) Ramirez in Mexico, Rachman was considered a better fighter,” said Aldeguer. “But I think Donnie has earned the respect of boxing experts now all over the world after knocking down Ramirez four times and winning an easy decision. If Rachman fights Donnie like he fought Milan, I don’t know if he’ll last. He’ll definitely feel Donnie’s power.”

Cuello, 22, is rated No. 11 by the WBC and No. 14 by the WBA while Rachman is ranked No. 4 by the IBF and NO. 12 by the WBC. The Philippine 105-pound titlist has a 15-2-5 record, with seven KOs, compared to Rachman’s 62-7-5, with 31 KOs.

Cuello is booked to appear in the undercard of the double main event April 19 bill featuring IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s third defense against unbeaten Raul (Cobra) Martinez and IBF lightflyweight titlist Ulises Solis’ ninth defense against Brian Viloria. No opponent has been named for Cuello but the betting is Rachman will get the nod.