UP foundation to tap independent referees to oversee UP-La Salle game

With the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on the brink of ending a 21-year Final Four drought, one of the team’s boosters is going all-out to ensure ‘fairness’.

For the Fighting Maroons’ game against the De La Salle University Green Archers on Wednesday, November 14, foundation NowhereToGoButUP is tapping the services of an independent group of professional basketball referees to oversee the game from afar.

The development was first reported by Ikot.PH.

“We just want a game that will be decided by the performances of the players, not by the whistles of the referees,” said Atty. Agaton Uvero, the foundation’s chairman.

“We do not want a repeat of the past, another scenario wherein poor officiating can influence the outcome of the game.”

According to the story, the game Uvero was referring to was the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Final Four tilt pitting La Salle and the Adamson Soaring Falcons last November 18. It was a highly-controversial game that the league even had an investigation of it.

Adamson were called for 33 fouls in the game compared to just 12 for La Salle.

Three referees were slapped with suspensions after the investigation.

“Admittedly, it is hard not to be biased in the heat of the moment. These referee-consultants will help us better appreciate the calls, help us better determine if the officiating is fair or not,” Uvero added.

It is still unknown whether the reports of the said officials will be made public.

A UP win will assure the Fighting Maroons of the third seed, as they own a superior quotient over the Green Archers and the FEU Tamaraws. A La Salle win, on the other hand, will result in the Fighting Maroons hoping for a Tamaraws loss on Sunday against the Adamson Soaring Falcons. An FEU loss to Adamson will force a playoff between the Tamaraws and the Fighting Maroons for the last Final Four slot.

The Fighting Maroons defeated the Green Archers in their first round encounter last September 30, 67-61.