The toughest part of running any basketball league is ensuring fairness and the safety of the players. Luckily, even ex post facto, missed calls or other damaging errors in officiating can be corrected. A week ago, there was an incident in Game 2 of the three-game Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) South Division quarterfinals series between the Quezon Huskers and home team Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines that caught the public’s attention.
At the 1:25 mark of the fourth quarter, Quezon was up by 11 after a three-pointer from Alvin Abundo. Zamboanga’s Judel Fuentes then committed an offensive foul, giving the visitors a backcourt inbound. Quezon’s Topeng Lagrama was double-teamed on the inbound by Zamboanga’s Jayvee Marcelino and John Mahari. The two sandwiched Lagrama at the free throw line as he moved to receive the ball, Mahari in front, Marcelino closing in from behind. Both made contact. The Huskers guard fell to the floor, clutching his face. A foul was called against the bigger Mahari. Lagrama was given free throws and made them, putting the game out of reach. Quezon won, 65-58, forcing the deciding Game 3 scheduled for today at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
But after reviewing the video of the game, the Huskers coaching staff saw what appeared to be an intentional foul not from Mahari, but from Marcelino, who looked like he threw a forearm to the right side of the Lagrama’s jaw from behind. The game’s broadcast anchor Javi Palana even predicted an unsportsmanlike foul call and called the “hit on the face.” This prompted Quezon team manager Atty. Donn Kapunan to file a request to review the incident and upgrade the non-call on Marcelino to a flagrant foul, as the ball was not even in play yet. A flagrant foul would have meant a suspension for Marcelino, applicable to today’s do-or-die game. The video of the incident has gained momentum online. Fans are not satisfied with the non-call.
“There’s no problem with a physical game; that’s part of it,” Kapunan said. “But intentionally hurting someone, action should be taken by the officials to be fair to every team, so that that kind of incident does not happen again.”
Kapunan says he made the appeal in the interest of justice and fair play, knowing that Game 3 would also be in Zamboanga. In a written reply dated Oct. 17 and signed by MPBL commissioner Kenneth Durendes and MPBL technical head George Magsino, “there was no conclusive evidence that Marcelino’s swinging forearm made contact with Lagrama’s head,” so no action was taken. The video seems to say otherwise. Lagrama’s face was swollen after the incident and to date, he still has a hard time chewing.
We’ve known Zamboanga head coach Louie Alas long enough to know that he would never tell his players to hurt their opponents. We can also understand that players can get overly exuberant. But given the benefit of hindsight, MPBL officials should still take a second look at what really happened, and come up with a decision that will deter injuring other players, who are the lifeblood of their league. Mishandling an incident like this could have long-term impact on the credibility of the league, more so when an amateur league like the UAAP can suspend three of its referees for performing below standards.