More physical games, consistent calls seen in PBA's 36th season

Expect more exciting, physical and free-flowing games in the 36th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). PBA coaches on Wednesday met with newly-installed PBA commissioner Chito Salud and reviewed the existing rules on officiating. Coaches Ryan Gregorio of Meralco, Bo Perasol of Powerade and Yeng Guiao of Air21 shared their views regarding the new interpretation of the existing rules.

"It's almost basically the same," Guiao told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview. "It differs maybe on the interpretation as they will eliminate the touch fouls or those that won't have any effect on the play." "I think they're going to give more leeway in terms of physicality, which will not be only good for us, but for the teams, the fans and the league as well," added Guiao. Perasol believes consistency, and not the high physicality of the game, which will give teams better understanding of the rules. "I don't think making the game more physical will benefit every squad, but how consistent the calls are will give teams better understanding and create more exciting games," said Perasol. Gregorio, who was represented in the meeting by his assistant coach Boyet Fernandez, cited as example the games played during the time of former commissioner Rudy Salud, the father of current league chief Chito, who took the reins from Sonny Barrios a few days ago. It was during the time of the elder Salud when the PBA had its glory years. For Gregorio, who is known coaching a tough defensive team like Purefoods/B-Meg Derby Ace for several years, highly-physical games are nothing but natural in the PBA. "Basketball is a contact sport and we should allow it just like that. We don't want to stop the action more because a hand-check foul is called or a flopping violation is whistled," said Gregorio. "Let the players play." But Gregorio explained that consistency is the most important thing. "If you allow a player to bump his way against his defender and score, referees should make sure they will allow the same at the other end," added Gregorio. "Consistency is what we're asking because at least it would give us coaches and players time to adjust to the rules. So, a team cannot anymore blame officiating every time it loses a game." Gregorio, a member of the league's agenda committee, was also elated on the fact that the flopping rule will not be implemented anymore. "I'm glad flopping rule will be scrapped. If a player flops, it will only make things difficult for the referees whether to call a charge or a blocking foul and it will impede the action as well," said Gregorio. Tom Urbano, probably the longest-serving staff member of any competing teams in the PBA, believes there's a big difference in officiating then and now. "Before, there was the 'no harm, no foul' rule," said Urbano, who started to work as a referee in 1979. "But games before were more exciting unlike today when referees will impede the action of the game." - JVP, GMANews.TV