PBA suspends ref for Ginebra-RoS shot clock non-call

MANILA, Philippines – PBA commissioner Chito Salud suspended for the rest of the conference a referee for missing an infraction leading to a fateful Rain or Shine play that eliminated Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs Saturday night at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Despite the absence of a formal protest from Ginebra, the Commissioner’s Office reviewed the crucial play and found out that the referees erred on their judgment.

In letting go what should have been a 24-second shot clock violation on the part of the Gin Kings, RoS gunner Jeff Chan was allowed to complete a steal off Mike Dunnigan and make the winning basket in their 92-91 win.

The Elasto Painters thus advanced to the semifinals, easing out the Gin Kings, who became the sixth casualty in the mid-season tourney after Blackwater, Kia, Globalport, San Miguel Beer and Barako Bull.

Officiating the game were Rommel Gruta, Peter Balao and Ray Yante. Suspended for the rest of the conference was the one covering the play whom the Commissioner’s Office didn’t name.

The Gin Kings seized control in the second half, leading by nine early in the fourth quarter only to lose in the end on another endgame meltdown.

At 91-90, Ginebra had a chance to close out the game but failed to run a good play, losing possession with the 24-second shot clock winding down with nine seconds left.

A closer look at the play shows that Jeff Chan tapped the ball from Michael Dunnigan with .2 second left on the shot clock. When the ball was tapped away from the hands of Dunnigan, this in itself did not constitute a loss of possession on the part of the offensive team and therefore did not stop the shot clock from counting down,” said the PBA in a statement.

For the 24-second shot clock to cease from counting down, clear and immediate control of the ball must be had by the defensive team either by containing the ball with the use of one or two hands and/or dribbling the ball twice if the containment was with the use of one hand or dribbling once if the containment was with the use of two hands.

“A closer look at the slow motion replay reveals that Jeff Chan did not have clear and immediate control of the ball after the tap at which time a 24-sec violation should have been called by the referees.

“Jeff Chan only had clear and immediate control of the ball with his second dribble after the 24 second shot clock had already expired.”

Salud said the lapse in judgment did not involve an error in technicality that is a ground for protest.

“Disciplinary measures have been taken on the erring game official for a lapse in judgment which involved a call that was not reviewable and correctible under the rules during the game,” Salud said.