Why suspend for flopping?

 San Beda rookie Ajanti Miller picked up two technical fouls for flopping in Game 1 of the NCAA men’s basketball finals against Letran at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday and as a result, was ejected. The dire consequence, whether fair or unfair, is he’ll be suspended for tomorrow’s Game 2 because of the throw-out.

At first, it was rationalized as a FIBA rule. Then, it was justified as a house NCAA rule. In FIBA, a suspension on the basis of an ejection isn’t automatic as it depends on the gravity of the fouls that led to the throw-out. A suspension may be imposed for a disqualifying foul which is similar to a flagrant foul penalty 2 in the pros. It’s different from an unsportsmanlike foul which doesn’t warrant an ejection. An unsportsmanlike foul is called when a player commits contact without a play on the ball to prevent a transition attack. In pro terms, it would be a transition take foul. There are other types of contact which merit an insportsmanlike foul.

Miller was called for flopping twice and the two technical fouls meant ejection. Flopping doesn’t fall under the guidelines of an unsportsmanlike foul which, in FIBA, has five categories, all dealing with contact situations. Flopping is called faking a foul and has nothing to do with contact or violent misconduct. It’s an attempt to draw a foul with an exaggerated or over-acting motion.

A referee in Game 1 was Saudi Arabia’s Abdulla Marzouk Alhejaili, a licensed FIBA international arbiter. He was brought in by NCAA officials to work playoff games starting in the semifinals. NCAA commissioner Atty. Rico Quicho was quoted as saying the initiative seeks to align the league with global standards and enhances the credibility and integrity of officiating, especially since it has fully adopted FIBA rules.

If the alignment with FIBA rules is strict, then Miller shouldn’t be suspended. Alhejaili should be surprised that Miller was slapped a one-game suspension for a pair of flopping technical fouls.

It’s not too late to correct this injustice. NCAA can do away with that irrational “house” rule and allow Miller to play in Game 2. In the spirit of sportsmanship, Letran shouldn’t object if the suspension is lifted. Fans want to see the championship settled not by default but by teams playing their full complement.

NCAA has actually dared to be different and innovative. Foreign student athletes are not allowed in NCAA, a welcome development to get rid of “imports” desecrating the integrity of college sports. NCAA also instituted a novel two-division elimination set-up with a play-in component leading to the playoffs and introduced a foreign FIBA referee to work the post-season. Surely, the brilliant minds of NCAA can find justification to rescind Miller’s suspension and allow him to play in Game 2.