Tams seek review on video replay rule, ready vs Archers

MANILA, Philippines - Though not totally satisfied with the explanation of UAAP Season 77 basketball commissioner Andy Jao in junking their protest and upholding Ateneo’s 68-64 overtime win, the Far Eastern U Tams are moving on from the episode and looking forward to their semis duel with La Salle,

In a letter to UAAP president Carmelita Mateo, FEU athletic director Mark Molina said there were “certain unanswered issues” but “nevetherless, FEU accepts Comm. Jao’s decision” and declared they are “ready to face DLSU at MOA on Sunday.”

At the same time, Molina asked the board to “interpret” the rule on video replay, which became a source of dispute in the said game.

“We seek the UAAP Board’s interpretation of the video replay rule which states ‘determining whether a shot is a 2 or 3 points will be allowed by reviewing the tapes at the First Dead Ball Opportunity, timeout and before the end of the period concerned.’

“We stress the fact that the rule says “AND” and not “OR”. If the rule means you can review before the end of the period then why was the phrase. “FIRST DEAD BALL OPPORTUNITY” added to the rule? The Board’s guidance regarding the interpretation is very important for future games,” Molina wrote the UAAP.

The Tams had placed the game under protest, claiming there was “misapplication” of the rule on video replay when the referees reviewed and corrected a two-pointer by Ateneo’s Von Pessumal three minutes after the basket. They said the rule prescribed “first dead ball opportunity, timeout and before the end of the period.”

Jao responded that the process was done “within the rules.” He claimed that the referee indicated a triple for the shot but was scored as two by the scorer and wasn’t corrected at the soonest possible time because of circumstances.

 “In the attached video of the shot Maynard Ballecer does not raise his two hands. Who said he raised his two hands? If he did raise his two hands, why didn’t the scorer see him? Ballecer was near the half court line and there was no obstruction between him and the scorer,” the FEU official said.