UAAP refs urged to follow guidelines

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato yesterday directed game officials of the coming UAAP basketball tournament to follow strictly the league guidelines on officiating and let the players decide the outcome of the game.

“I told them to make sure they follow strictly the guidelines of the UAAP and not to make calls that will decide the games,” Badolato told The STAR yesterday.

The 73rd UAAP season kicks off on July 10 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Badolato, who also served as the league commissioner in 1996 and 2004, said he would tap a total of 31 referees from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Basketball League to officiate all the games, including in the juniors’ and women’s divisions.

“It’s a combination of referees from the SBP and the PBL,” said Badolato, a retired multi-titled coach of the Red Cubs and now the athletic director of San Beda.

Officials of Far Eastern U, one of the early favorites to contend for this year’s crown, have earlier voiced their concern over officiating in the league.

“If officiating will not improve, the same fate will happen to us just like last year,” said FEU coach Glen Capacio, who claimed poor officiating partly spoiled their campaign last year.

“Let the players decide the outcome of the game,” he said.

FEU, meanwhile, tries to redeem itself this year with a team teeming with talents, headed by Smart Gilas Pilipinas standouts Aldrech Ramos and JR Cawaling and Reil Cervantes, RR Garcia, Jens Knuttel, Paul Sanga, Pipo Noundou and Chris Exciminiano.

The Tams open their bid against reigning back-to-back champion Ateneo on July 11 at 4 p.m.