House divided on rules

There has never been a clear consensus on which basketball rules will yield better results. Some say the FIBA’s efforts to homogenize the regulations of basketball worldwide will dilute the spectacular offensive skills of pro players around the globe. Others say it will provide more creative opportunities to score points.

The mere fact that any kind of defense is allowed will already add pressure to coaches. I’ve spoken with PBA coaches who used to coach in college, and they say this merely adds zone offense to their homework. Others feel that, with no hand checking, individually gifted players will score even more.

When you factor in the difference in goal-tending rules, you really only get one shot at the basket. No lucky bounces in the amateurs. This new wrinkle, instituted just a little after open basketball was declared, also gives taller teams an advantage. The imaginary cylinder above the rim is a thing of the past. Once the shot goes up and hits iron, it’s fair game. The closer three-point line (20 1/2 feet compared to 22 feet in the pros) may make it more tempting to hoist long bombs. If you miss, the long rebound may lead to a fast break at the other end. Well, at least one team is going to score more.

The amateur game is definitely not designed for television, although the 10-minute quarters fit better into a two-hour timeslot. Still, there are certain inconveniences, like allowing only the coach to call timeouts, not players. If the ball is on the opposite side of the floor, the two (not three) referees may not spot or hear the coach call for a ceasefire from his bench.

The biggest adjustment will be pacing on account of fouls. In the pros, you have an extra foul to give (six, not five), and technical fouls do not count as personals. It sometimes takes players until the middle of the first quarter to tell how refs are going to call the game. If they’re using BAP referees whom they don’t regularly experience, players’ adjustments are going to take longer. And by the way, offensive fouls will be counted as team fouls, so we’ll have the added agony of more free throws earlier in the game.

It will definitely be frustrating for the players in the beginning. The pace of the game will be different. The shorter quarters may end just as some shooters are warming up. Aside from that, there will be less timeouts, so coaches will have to trust their guys on the floor more. Control will be a little harder for some hardline coaches.

At the end of the day, it’s all a big sacrifice in the hope that the national team does well in Busan. As long as everyone keeps their mind on why they’re making all of these adjustments, then there shouldn’t be any real problems.

With all the activity surrounding the climax of the PBL Challenge Cup Finals and the opening of the PBA’s 2002 season, the MBA has been unusually silent the past two weeks. That may be because the league is busily screening candidates for inclusion in the line-ups of its member teams for 2002. First of all, Cagayan de Oro has been heard of to be considering a comeback, but nothing definite has been decided yet. Secondly, it has not also been settled where the former Pangasinan franchise will play. Third, existing member teams have not finished their tryouts, so a lot of things are up in the air. But April 6 is not that far away. It would be healthy for the league to cast some things in stone already.

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This writer would like to thank everyone for their support in last Friday’s SCOOP (Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines) elections. It’s a new challenge to be president of this prestigious entity, and the opportunity to positively impact my profession is something I will be indebted to outgoing president Beth Celis for. I would like to invite all past and present SCOOP members to the session this Friday, because it will be important for us to hear everyone’s suggestions and vision for the group. Like I always say, we’re all on the same team.