An unusual moment unfolded in the closing minute of Adamson University’s 62-59 victory over defending champion University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
For 20 tense seconds with the game tied at 57-all, the Soaring Falcons played with just four players against UP’s five.
UAAP basketball commissioner Jai Reyes broke down the extraordinary sequence, calling it a rare mix-up rather than a mistake by Adamson.
The confusion began when Cedrick Manzano fouled out and Nigerian forward Francis Nnoruka was involved in a simultaneous double foul, a situation defined under FIBA Article 42.1.
“At the scorers’ table, Erolon was ready to replace Ray Allen Torres for Manzano. But Torres ran out of the playing court, thinking he would replace Erolon, when he should have come in for Manzano,” Reyes explained.
The mix-up caused the referees to momentarily misjudge the situation, thinking Adamson already had five players on the court.
“Pag nakita niyo yung video, biglang tumakbo si Torres outside. Ang protocol kasi ng referees, once lima na sila on the court, they all give the go signal na okay na, officially lima na. Because the game can’t go on ng apat lang eh. Now, accidentally, let’s move on. Accidentally nga apat yung players ng Adamson,” he added.
“The rules say that the game goes on until ma-recognize yung pagkakamali. In this case, apat lang yung players. And we just correct the situation na lima yung players on the court. Again, officially, this is based on initial findings.”
Reyes admitted he and the game commissioner attempted to stop the game upon realizing Adamson had only four players — Erolon, AJ Fransman, Matthew Montebon, and Cade Ranzone — but the official timer was unsure of the unique scenario.
The Soaring Falcons continued their play, eventually forcing UP into a turnover that helped seal their victory.
“On our table, I was saying, dapat stinap niyo yung game. Dapat na-stop niyo kasi nga apat lang. Our game commissioner was trying to stop it, pinapa-buzzer na dun sa timer. But the timer felt like, hindi siya sure na apat,” Reyes shared.
“Adamson was trying to progress the play, break UP’s defense. So, he was saying, pa-attack siya Adamson. Bakit natin i-stop yung game.”
From the referees’ perspective, Adamson had five eligible players on the floor.
Torres’ exit created the appearance of an error, but Reyes emphasized that the Soaring Falcons had not violated any rules.
“Wala rin naging official barking ng Matthew Erolon for Torres. So at that point, it was clear for the three officials na lima na yung players ng Adamson. So siguro after, at some point, sabi ni Matthew, ikaw yung sa-suban ko. So tumakbo rin si Torres palabas. So I wouldn’t say na nagkamali si Adamson. But accidentally, yun yung nangyari upon review of the video,” he said.
Still, Reyes noted that the referees “are not completely correct” and urged for a stronger pool of FIBA-accredited officials to prevent such unusual situations.
“May pagkakamali rin sila dahil, you know, high-level officials talagang dapat nakita pa rin nila na bigla palang may tumakbo.
“So yun, in fairness, wala rin barking ang pangalan ni Torres na lumabas. But yeah, that doesn’t save the officials from being completely correct in this situation. But procedurally, upon a review, I think tama naman yun ang nangyari. Sobrang unusual lang talaga,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Adamson coach Nash Racela said his staff was left confused and expects a thorough explanation from the Commissioner’s Office.
“We wanted to adjust to the referees, pero buti na lang the players wanted to deliver today. We deserve an explanation from them. We expect the Commissioner’s Office to reach out to us, at least man lang explain,” he said.
Reyes confirmed that an official communication detailing a thorough review of the incident will be sent to both head coaches — Racela and UP’s Goldwin Monteverde — as well as to the media, “hopefully by tomorrow.”
