Erring ref in FEU-NU duel suspended

Let this serve as a warning to all UAAP referees.

League commissioner Edmundo "Ato" Badolato yesterday cracked the whip on referee Boy Quisido who was meted a heavy five-game suspension for making the buzzer-beating call that gave defending champion FEU a one-point overtime victory over National University last Saturday.

In announcing his decision, Badolato told The STAR that Quisido erred in making the crucial call that awarded two penalty free throws to FEU’s Don Yabut with no time left in overtime and the score tied at 85. Badolato said it should have been a let-go situation.

"In viewing the tape, there was a foul. That was clear. But before the season started, the referees were reminded against making such calls that would decide the outcome of the game. This one did," said Badolato, a champion coach in the NCAA who was tapped to oversee the UAAP basketball tournament this year.

"It was a correct call under normal circumstances. But he should have considered the time and the penalty situation, specially since Yabut had his back against the FEU basket from afar and couldn’t have made a basket. The referees should not decide the game," he added.

"I’m sure there was no malice behind the call but if the referee was conscious of the time and penalty situation he wouldn’t have made that call. Unless of course a player was punched. It should have been a let-go situation," a game official, who requested anonymity, said the other day.

Quisido’s suspension was effected retroactive beginning last Sunday when he did not officiate. He will sit out three playing days in the first round and will miss one more in the second round. Quisido had been informed by the UAAP’s supervisor of referees Jun Cordero.

There are 14 referees calling the games in the UAAP seniors division and 20 more for the juniors and women’s divisions. They all come from the National Basketball Referees Organization (NABRO). The Basketball Referees Commission (BARECOM) provides referees for the NCAA while the PBA has its own pool of referees.

The NU Bulldogs, winless in five games this season, gave the Tamaraws a very good fight last Saturday and had a chance to win the game until Rey Mendoza missed from underneath. The rebound went to Yabut who was held in the arms by NU’s Edwin Asoro as the buzzer sounded.

To the surprise of the huge crowd at the Philsport Arena, Quisido called a foul with the score tied at 85 and NU in penalty situation. Yabut split his charities for an 86-85 FEU win. Then the referees walked off the court amid jeers from the entire NU crowd. — Abac Cordero