Narvasa suspends two referees

MANILA, Philippines - Two of the four referees who officiated last Sunday’s knockout game between crowd favorite Ginebra San Miguel and GlobalPort were suspended for the rest of the conference due to lapses and non-calls in the most crucial part of the game at the MOA Arena.

Referees Mardy Montoya, Bing Oliva, Romell Gruta and Edward Aquino were summoned by PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa to his office yesterday. All the other members of the PBA pool of referees were also invited to the session.

After a deliberation that lasted nearly two hours, the PBA ruled that the referees erred in not calling a ball-hogging (five-second) violation and a backing violation on GlobalPort guard Stanley Pringle.

Gruta, who was closest to the action in the final eight seconds of the game won by GlobalPort, was suspended along with Aquino, the crew chief.

Aquino was on the other side of the court during the final play and should have seen and called the backing violation on Pringle as he was trapped by Ginebra defenders Greg Slaughter and Solomon Mercado near the halfcourt line.

Videos posted on the Internet showed that Pringle held on to the ball, without dribbling, for at least five seconds, which was a violation of the rule. A picture also posted by a fan showed Pringle’s right foot touching the halfcourt line as he was trapped.

Pringle managed to pass the ball out to a teammate just before the buzzer sounded with the scoreboard reading 84-83 in favor of GlobalPort.

The other referee, including the substitute, was far from the action and was spared of any fine or suspension, according to PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

He said the referees accepted the mistake and were apologetic.

Narvasa did not issue his own statement after the ruling but according to Marcial, the commissioner extolled the referees to always do their best to prevent a repetition of the incident.

Ginebra lost the tightly fought contest and failed to reach the semis of the Philippine Cup. Since no protest was filed, GlobalPort’s victory holds, and the Batang Pier moves on to the best-of-seven semis against Alaska Milk starting Jan. 4 at the MOA Arena.

The other semis between San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine begins Jan. 5 at the same venue.

Marcial said upon constant review of the final play, the referees “admitted the lapses.”

“There should have been a ball-hogging violation and a backing violation on Pringle,” said Marcial, saying the commissioner is now more concerned how to prevent a similar incident from happening in the crucial stages of the conference.

While under suspension, Gruta and Aquino will not be allowed to work any game, a maximum of 21 games if the semis and finals would go the distance.

“Their allowances are forfeited while under suspension,” said Marcial.