Salud affirms no goaltending

It was a cliffhanger of a virtual photo-finish as San Mig Coffee avoided a three-game losing streak to barely beat Barako Bull, 92-91, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

There was confusion at the final buzzer as about two seconds were left when Mixers center Rafi Reavis slapped the ball away from the rim in what would be a goaltending violation in the NBA. But under FIBA and PBA rules, the interference was absolutely legal. The Supreme Court would’ve upheld Reavis’ block and determined the outcome as final and executory.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud said if the referees ruled a goaltending violation, it would’ve been the wrong call. Whether the ball had the chance of entering the basket or not is immaterial, he stressed. However, if no time remained on the game clock, it would’ve been goaltending because the block would’ve happened after time expired.

For the record, a situation like that isn’t reviewable by checking on the video. A video review is made only in instances of ascertaining if a shot was made from beyond the three-point arc or not and which team had the last touch before the ball went out of bounds. A goaltending situation is not reviewable as is a situation in a no-call or where a foul was committed except in determining a flagrant.

Salud said the PBA has applied the FIBA rule on basket interference since 2007. “If the ball has touched the rim and is still hovering over the rim, it’s a live situation and a defensive player may swat it away,” said Salud. “That’s the rule if the game clock has not expired. It doesn’t matter if the ball has a chance of entering the basket or not. So, Reavis’ block was perfectly legal.”

PBA special assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial said it is within Barako Bull’s right to protest. “There’s a P20,000 protest fee and it will be forfeited if the protest is ruled out,” he said. “In a situation where time has expired at the end of any quarter, the ball cannot be swatted away if it has hit the rim and is still above the basket. That would be goaltending. But in last Sunday’s game, there was time left and under FIBA rules, you can swat it away above the rim. Even Mick (Pennisi) has done that before.”

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Marcial said Barako veteran Danny Seigle is aware of the rule. “I spoke to Danny after the game and he had no question about Reavis’ block but he asked about the possible foul on the play which, of course, was a judgment call,” said Marcial. “I also spoke with Talk ‘N’ Text’s Bong Ravena who also acknowledged the ball may be tapped out in that instance.”

In the past, Reavis has been observed to swat the ball away after hitting the rim on the tail-end of a free throw situation and that’s not goaltending. It’s the same thing in a field goal situation.

What made Reavis’ block glaring was it prevented Barako from converting the marginal basket. The game was nip-and-tuck with four deadlocks and six lead changes. Marc Pingris grabbed two crucial offensive rebounds down the stretch and the second gave P. J. Simon the opportunity to sink the twinner that pushed San Mig Coffee on top for good with 19.6 ticks left. Baculi ran a final play for Pennisi to take the shot but Josh Urbiztondo found Enrico Villanueva open for a stab inside the lane. Villanueva almost made it but Reavis swatted the ball away above the rim.

Baculi said it was a hard loss to take because the referees didn’t rule a goaltending and the shot had a chance of making it. But in the same breath, he admitted a rule is a rule. Baculi said he would consult with team owner George Chua on whether or not to file a protest because it appeared that the referees took the win away. Still, Marcial said the situation is not open to debate with the rule clearly establishing the legality of Reavis’ block.

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“Even assuming the ball had a chance of entering the basket, any interference would’ve put the ball inside not outside because of the angle,” explained Marcial. “But in this case, Reavis swatted it away, meaning the ball was nowhere halfway or even a fourth inside. We’ve been applying the FIBA rule on this case for the last five years. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of this. We can understand how coach Junel feels but we must abide by the rule.”

Baculi, meanwhile, met with Salud yesterday to clarify the rule and said Barako will not file a protest.

San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone reactivated Pingris and Joe De Vance for the game after they both sat out the Mixers’ 80-79 loss to Rain Or Shine last Wednesday. The extended rotation made a difference as Pingris collected nine points, five rebounds and two assists in 26 solid minutes and De Vance five points, one rebound and three assists in 17. Pingris came off a two-game sit-out and played with pain in his left ankle.

Barako had the edge in rebounds, 45-38, three-point conversions, 9-of-32 to 7-of-18 and assists, 27-18 but San Mig Coffee compiled less turnovers, 8-14 and shot more free throws, 19-of-25 to 10-of-11. James Yap bailed the Mixers out of trouble with 13 of his 21 points coming in the fourth period but Simon’s critical jumper sealed it.