Pinoy ref in Terrific 12

MACAU – There were 15 referees from 12 countries enlisted to work 16 games in the Terrific 12 tournament here over six days that ended last Sunday. The only Filipino in the cast was Ricor Buaron who worked as a waiter in a hotel until deciding to become a full-time referee in 2000. South Korea, Kazakhstan and Indonesia were represented by two referees each. Iraq, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Lebanon, Singapore and the Philippines had one apiece.

Four of the 15 worked games at the recent FIBA World Cup in China, noted FIBA technical delegate Heros Avanesian of Iran. Avanesian, who is of Armenian descent, was designated to oversee the conduct of the Terrific 12 competition which was sanctioned by FIBA. Game commissioner was Bruce Palmer of the US. Palmer, a graduate of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, moved to Australia in 1977 and began a storybook coaching career. He retired from coaching in 1995 but remains involved in basketball while living with his family in Brisbane. Palmer has also coached in Japan and South Korea. University of the Pacific was where former PBA import and NBA veteran Dell Demps played. Two other NBA veterans from the school were John Gianelli and Michael Olowokandi.

Buaron, 49, took his FIBA license in 2008 and has worked the FIBA World U19 Championships in Prague in 2013 and the FIBA Asia Cup in Changsha in 2015. He played basketball at a tech-voc school in Capiz and was invited by friends to try his luck as a referee. Buaron was classified as an academician or a trainee in the PBA D-League until he joined the SBP. He’s a former UAAP arbiter.

In the Terrific 12 playoff for third place last Sunday, the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions missed their head coach Li Chunjiang and his son Li Jinglong, a 6-5 guard. The night before, Zhejiang lost a 77-76 heartbreaker to the Seoul SK Knights in the semifinals.  Li Jinglong shot 12 points in the contest.

For unknown reasons, both father and son were not with Zhejiang when the Lions played San Miguel Beer for the $50,000 third prize. The scuttlebutt was they left town in a hurry. Head assistant coach Brian Goorjian called the shots for the Lions against San Miguel. The game had 10 lead changes and 12 ties before Zhejiang pulled off a 91-89 squeaker.

San Miguel played without Paul Zamar, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter and Christian Standhardinger. Zamar returned home to attend his grandfather’s funeral while Fajardo and Lassiter sat out the entire tournament with injuries. Fajardo is still smarting from a right ankle injury suffered in Gilas’ first game against Italy at the FIBA World Cup in China while Lassiter is recovering from a knee issue. They’ll be reactivated for the PBA Governors Cup which San Miguel hopes to win for a Grand Slam this season. Standhardinger sat out Sunday’s contest with a slight fever although he was suited up.

Kelly Nabong had a breakout performance for San Miguel, hitting 4-of-6 triples to finish with 14 points in 23:16 minutes. He also defended Zhejiang import Jalen Reynolds. Surprisingly, San Miguel came close to winning even as Terrence Romeo and Chris Ross went scoreless and Arwind Santos hit 1-of-9 field goals, including six misses from beyond the arc.

In the final, Lance Stephenson sizzled for 34 points, including 4-of-12 from deep, as he led the Liaoning Flying Leopards to an 83-82 thriller over the Knights. Stephenson, 29, was named tournament MVP. He was clearly a cut above the rest as the nine-year NBA veteran wound up averaging 31.3 points in four outings. There was a lot strumming on his “air guitar” as Stephenson put on a spectacular show from Day 1, proving he deserves every cent of his $4 million salary with Liaoning.

Stephenson has been called “Ice Water” and “Born Ready.” LeBron James dubbed Stephenson, JaVale McGee, Michael Beasley and Rajon Rondo “MUD’ for Misunderstood, Underappreciated and Determined as Los Angeles Lakers “misfits’ last season. Whatever nickname he answers to, Stephenson couldn’t care less. His job is to work his magic on the court so he can play his “air guitar.” 

When Liaoning battled San Miguel in the semifinals, Stephenson was all business. He refused to shake hands with Chris Ross before the game and turned his back on Terrence Romeo who motioned to high-five after a brilliant move – not Stephenson’s but Romeo’s. Stephenson also refused to pose for photographs with fans inside or outside the venue. A consolation was after Liaoning beat San Miguel, 111-89, Stephenson went up to Ross and shook his hand.