3-ref setup blamed for ‘NC’ woes

San Sebastian coach Turo Valenzona yesterday said the NCAA would be better off with its previous two-referee system than the present three-referee setup which, according to him, has only led to more questionable calls and greater confusion among the game officials themselves.

The veteran coach, who’d seen the best and the worst in the country’s oldest collegiate league, said this year’s batch of NCAA referees are having a very difficult time adjusting to the three-referee setup which was introduced just in time for its 78th season.

As a result, this year’s edition just heading toward the Final Four has seen a couple of ugly, televised bench-clearing incidents and a ton of complaints against the officiating. A few punches have been thrown, and landed, too, leading to numerous deliberate fouls, technicals and suspensions the league had never seen in a long while.

"They (troubles) are bound to happen once the referees fail to control the game. And as I see it, the three-referee rule is only making it more difficult even for the referees themselves," said Valenzona on the eve of the Final Four which pits San Sebastian (No. 1) against Jose Rizal (4) and St. Benilde (2) against PCU (3).

Under the new setup, similar to that being used in the professional leagues and even in the UAAP, the three referees (the lead, slot and trailer) have their own areas of jurisdiction and responsibility, making it very difficult for one to overrule the other especially during crucial moments.

"Ganoon na nga ang nangyayari. Noong naging tatlo ang referees, para dumami pa ang hindi nakikita. Sometimes, a foul or a violation is not being called because sabi ng trailer na nakakita, ‘yung isa daw ang dapat tumawag dahil wala siya sa puwesto," said Valenzona.

"Kaya nga tayo nag-dagdag ng referees, eh…para makita nilang lahat. Ngayon, pag tinanong mo naman ang nasa puwesto at sinagot ka na ‘hindi ko kasi nakita’ eh ‘yun ang masakit. Optional naman yata ito sa NCAA, di ibalik na lang sa dalawa at dagdagan na lang ang suweldo nila," Valenzona suggested.

The same coach who steered San Sebastian to five straight titles in the early ‘90s also said during the PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn he is confident that his charges can get past the Heavy Bombers, whom they defeated in last year’s best-of-three finals, 2-1.

The Stags will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage over the Heavy Bombers, the same edge that will be enjoyed by the Blazers over the PCU Dolphins.

"We just have to follow our system and if we do that, there’s no reason why we can’t win in the Final Four and even keep the title," he said. "We also have to change the attitude na kapag lumamang ng malaki, the players tend to relax."

George Longalong, coach Jimmy Mariano’s assistant at PCU, downplayed their chances against the Blazers, winners of the 2002 title, despite the fact that PCU is playing its best season in the NCAA.

"Fifty-fifty ang chance namin, Ang St. Benilde lamang sa tao kaya dapat itakbo namin ng maayos ang depensa. Maganda nga ang nilalaro namin pero kailangan pa din suwertehin. Hindi nawawala sa laro ‘yan…dumadating ‘yan," he said.