Ateneo, La Salle coaches want fair, consistent officiating in finals

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo coach Norman Black and La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren are hoping the referees tasked to officiate the University Athletic Association of the Philippines best-of-three title series will be fair and consistent. Both coaches agree that unbiased officiating will give both teams the chance to play their usual games in this much-anticipated championship series. Game 1 will be played on Sunday, September 21, at the Araneta Coliseum. “The only thing I requested from (UAAP commissioner Chito Narvasa and his technical staff) is for them to be consistent in the way they call the games," said Black, who is targeting his first UAAP crown after four years on the Ateneo bench. “And that the way games have been officiated so far will be the way the finals will be officiated so the players will not have a very difficult time adjusting." Pumaren echoed the same sentiment. “My appeal is for them to be consistent, and you will never hear from me. I know it’s just a matter of consistency," said Pumaren. It has already been agreed that a pool of 12 referees will officiate in the three-game series and will be directly under Narvasa’s management. It will be the fourth time that Ateneo and La Salle will clash for the UAAP crown. Ateneo won in 1988 and 2002, while the Green Archers emerged victorious in 2001. – GMANews.TV