PBA commissioner Salud: Players will decide game, not refs

More free-flowing games and letting the players decide the outcome. That's the simplest interpretation of how newly-installed Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Chito Salud summed up the changes in the league's existing rules. "We've been to many forms of rules, but we're doing away with the advantage/disadvantage rule and the no harm, no foul rule," Salud told mediamen during the presentation of rule changes in the league’s upcoming 36th season Thursday at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City. "But we'll make bits and grabs in those rules and apply it in simplest terms. And if I may add, the no harm, no foul rule doesn't mean that there should be harm made on a player before calling a foul, it's not a harm on a player, but a harm on the play," he added. Salud, son of former PBA commissioner Rudy Salud, said that not all contacts constitute a foul. "On bailout calls such as desperation shots, if there’s contact, don't expect a foul," said the younger Salud. "Contacts that won’t affect any play should be let go." Referees supervisor Ramil Cruz showed a footage of the final play during Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals between Purefoods and Alaska where Kerby Raymundo was seen making a desperation heave, his leg slightly hitting Joe Devance's waist and referee Maui Maurillo blew his whistle, and called a foul on Alaska’s Fil-Am forward. Official supervisor Ramil Cruz showed footage of the final play in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals between Purefoods and Alaska, where Raymundo was seen making a desperation heave, his leg slightly hitting Joe Devance's waist. Referee Maui Maurillo blew his whistle, calling a foul on Alaska’s Fil-Am forward. That allowed Raymundo to break an 85-all standoff and enabled the Giants to escape with a win. Salud also gave new interpretation on over-the-back foul. "Unless there's a push or a shove, a player cannot be called for an over-the-back foul," he added. What about a foul on a shooter? "Any contact on the shooter, which may affect the shooter’s ability to make a basket is illegal, for example a bump or touching the shooting arm, forearm or elbow is considered a foul," said Salud. But if there's one crucial adjustment made by the new commissioner, it's the removal of the challenge rule applied for two-point or three-point shots, which may be challenged by teams at any part of the game. Before, teams can challenge a shot and officials will take time to review if it's indeed a three-pointer or a two-pointer. Now, teams can only challenge shots during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime period. The verification will be made during the next dead ball situation. Stricter measures will be enforced in order to speed up the game and avoid impeding the action, Salud said. A footage of the game between Air21 and San Miguel Beer two years ago was shown where Ranidel de Ocampo, then playing for the Express, launched a three-pointer, but his shot was counted as a two-pointer. The footage clearly showed that De Ocampo did take the shot from outside of the three-point line. Applying this situation to the new rules, Salud said they will count it as a three-pointer. “Even if the referees did count the shot as a two-pointer, but as soon as a replay video will be made available to us and we see that he did take a shot from the three-point area, we will reverse the referee’s decision and count it as a three-pointer and give the win to Air21," said Salud. “Truth hurts, but that’s just the way it is and I’m sure the public will understand that because that’s exactly what happened." Salud said Solar TV, the official coveror of the PBA, promised that it will add more cameras to provide all possible angles to be readied once a review is needed. The new commissioner also pointed out a major change in substituting a player who cannot shoot free throws awarded to him because of an injury. “If a player is injured and will have to be replaced, the injured player cannot go back and play anymore," said Salud. “It’s ridiculous if we see an injured player returning to action where in fact, he is injured. So, in this new rule, the player who substituted for the injured player will take the free throws." “In a situation where a player got hurt, we will give him enough time or a grace period of one minute to recover and see if he can still take the free throws," added Salud. The new commissioner is hopeful that the new rule changes that he plans to approve will result in more exciting games in the future. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV