PBA suspends ref Rey Yante for crucial missed call in ROS-Magnolia tiff

The PBA has suspended Rey Yante for the rest of the Season 49 Governors’ Cup for missing a crucial call late in Game 3 of Rain or Shine’s eventual win over Magnolia in their quarterfinal series on Sunday night in Antipolo.

Upon review by the league’s technical committee, the long-time referee failed to call a goaltending violation on Jhonard Clarito at the 15.3-second mark of the overtime period when he swatted the shot of Zavier Lucero.

Rain or Shine went on to win, 111-106.

“Our trail referee who administered the inbound, si Mr. Rey Yante, missed to call a goaltending because of his position,” Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro told reporters on Monday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The goaltending was eventually called on Clarito upon review by the referees, but not before a duty foul was given up by Jerrick Ahanmisi to Gian Mamuyac – which received an outburst from Hotshots coach Chito Victolero.

“Mali ang pwesto niya (Yante), he wasn’t able to call the goaltending. But with the rules that we have, we reviewed it,” Castro said.

“But then, that’s after the fact already, Magnolia had already fouled a Rain or Shine player. But again, we added the two points because of our rule regarding reviewables on missed goaltending,” he continued.

This is the second time in nine years Yante has been suspended.

Back in 2015, Yante was suspended for the rest of that year’s Commissioner’s Cup playoffs after a “clear judgment error” during a game between Meralco and, coincidentally, Rain or Shine.

The league, Castro in particular, also owned up to the mistake that the officials committed when no longer playing the remaining one second in regulation.

It happened after Magnolia guard Mark Barroca went for the go-ahead layup but missed, and the ball sailed out of bounds following a joust near the rim.

There was still a second left on the clock but the final buzzer was sounded shortly after.

“I take full responsibility sa situation na ito,” said Castro, who’s also part of the technical committee. “I take full responsibility for this incident.”