UAAP Season 88 basketball commissioner Jai Reyes is making player suspension guidelines simpler while pushing for long-term officiating development in the country’s premier varsity league.
Speaking at the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Basketball Press Conference last September 15 at Gloria Maris Greenhills, Reyes announced a change in how technical and unsportsmanlike fouls will be handled this season.
“For player suspensions, last year, technical and unsportsmanlike fouls were accumulated toward suspension. This year, we are simplifying the process. Technical and unsportsmanlike fouls will not be counted toward suspension unless we issue a formal memo to all schools,” he explained.
Reyes emphasized that his office will remain transparent and consistent with FIBA rules, noting:
“Once we determine that a play is not in the spirit of basketball, is harmful, or unsportsmanlike, that is when we will issue a memo specifying that such fouls will accumulate toward suspension.”
The move was part of Reyes’ broader call for alignment and collaboration between referees and coaches.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
During the coaches’ meeting on September 11 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, he told the coaches, “Alignment and consistency between refs and coaches. There will be mistakes, but the most important point is that we are coming from an aligned perspective.
“Going forward, we are aiming for a healthy working relationship between the teams and officials so we can make each other better.”
Meanwhile, referees underwent their own workshop on September 12 at the FCL Center to strengthen officiating standards ahead of the season.
Reyes also expressed hope to once again have a pool of full-time UAAP referees, a system the league has used in the past, given that its basketball tournaments run from September to May.
These officials typically cover both the 5-on-5 and 3×3 competitions across all five divisions.
“The goal is long-term development, like what we do for players, follow the standards of top leagues globally, and ensure the best officiating possible for the UAAP. Hopefully, this program will also develop future FIBA referees,” said Reyes, who is currently in discussions with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to pursue the initiative.
