The PBA has suspended the referees who worked Game Two of the 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals between Magnolia and Meralco last Friday.
Four officials have been barred from the rest of the semis for their failure to call the shot clock violation in the final seconds of the match, which Meralco won by way of an 81-75 decision to tie the best-of-five series at one game apiece.
The refs’ crew chief of that game was Jimmy Mariano. The three umpires, on the other hand, were Bing Oliva, Albert Nubla, and Joel Baldago.
“Tawag ng referees sa akin kahapon, hindi tumama. ‘Di tumama, so dapat violation ‘yun,” Commissioner Willie Marcial said Sunday.
The fiasco, which became the center of online talk that night, began in the final 27 seconds of the match and with the Bolts ahead by five.
Import Tony Bishop launched from the right wing in an attempt to beat the shot clock. His long shot missed, but Aaron Black was there to collar the rebound. He then gave it to Chris Newsome as they tried to milk the clock.
But it was obvious that the shot clock did not reset right away. Play only stopped with 9.4 seconds left, when Jio Jalalon picked up a foul.
Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero and his staff were then seen irate towards the officials. They all argued that Bishop’s shot did not hit the rim and therefore, a shot clock violation should’ve been called.
Marcial and his office watched the particular play numerous times. They admitted that a call should’ve been made, thus the suspension of the refs.
“Mali namin, mali ng referees, so ‘yung buong crew suspended for this semis,” said the league chieftain as the officials are suspended without pay.
Asked if this instance will merit a discussion among the league’s top brass for revisions in certain rules, Marcial said that it could be a possibility.
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