The Philippine Basketball Association has released an official statement addressing the controversial foul call in the dying seconds of regulation during Game 2 of the 2025 Philippine Cup semifinals between TNT Tropang Giga and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, acknowledging a lapse in its review process.
With Rain or Shine holding a precarious 99-96 lead and only 7.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, TNT’s Calvin Oftana made an attempt from deep when he was fouled by Gian Mamuyac.
The referees initiated a review to determine the nature of the shot — whether it was taken from beyond the regular three-point arc or from the extended four-point area.
After a lengthy review using official broadcast feeds, it was ruled that Oftana was attempting a three-pointer. He was awarded three free throws, which he calmly knocked down to tie the game and force overtime.
TNT would eventually go on to win, 113-105, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
However, based on video footage captured by Tiebreaker Times, it clearly showed that Oftana was well beyond the four-point line when he was fouled — indicating that he should have been awarded four free throws.
The PBA’s statement, released Saturday afternoon, admitted the oversight and explained the limitations of their current review system.
“With 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation and Rain or Shine leading 99-96, a foul was called on Gian Mamuyac as he defended Calvin Oftana. The referees initiated a review to determine whether the foul occurred on a three-point attempt or from the four-point area,” the league said.
“Following the review, it was ruled that the foul occurred on a three-point shot attempt. Calvin Oftana was subsequently awarded three free throws… However, video footage from members of the media has surfaced, clearly indicating that Calvin Oftana was beyond the four-point line at the time of the foul.”
The PBA clarified that its reviews are solely based on footage from official broadcast cameras.
“Our official reviews are based on video feeds from our cameras from different angles. These serve as our sole basis for decision-making during in-game reviews. While we strive to provide accurate rulings, our assessments are inherently limited to the footage available within these camera perspectives,” it continued.
“We deeply regret that this call was missed. This incident highlights that, despite the use of advanced equipment and multiple camera angles, blind spots can and do still exist within live game coverage.”
The PBA emphasized in its statement the league’s ongoing effort to improve officiating systems, vowing to assess and upgrade its review protocols.
“Our players, teams, and fans deserve the highest standards of fairness and accuracy. We acknowledge this lapse and commit to continuously improving our review systems to minimize such occurrences in the future.”
