CHICAGO - The poor officiating that has plagued Season 88 of the UAAP men's basketball tournament is apparently contagious and has infected its rival league.
Which is why the "clash of the titans" between NCAA Season 101 men's basketball powerhouses San Beda and CSB Benilde turned out to be a disappointment on Friday afternoon at the FilOil Centre.
Because the referees helped decide the outcome of this crucial match-up.
In their close 80-76 win, the Red Lions were aided by 28 free throw attempts, 18 more than the Blazers who were whistled for 23 fouls compared to San Beda's 16.
It's not just uneven officiating, it was a key disadvantage for Benilde, which entered the arena already wounded by the absence of reigning MVP Allen Liwag.
Despite the handicap, the Blazers took an early nine-point first-quarter lead. And then the calls came, helping San Beda rally on the strength of 10 free throws.
By halftime, the Red Lions had taken over the lead, thanks to a 20-3 edge from the free throw stripe.
BEDA CAN WIN ON ITS OWN.
Coached by Yuri Escueta and powered by MVP-Rookie of the Year candidate Agianti Miller, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, the Red Lions have enough to beat anybody in their league. They don't need help from the referees.
When the officiating is viewed as tilting towards San Beda and the Saason 101 basketball commissioner - Rico Quicho - is a school alum, it makes for suspicious minds.
I am not suggesting that a cooking show is ongoing. I'm just saying that the officiating in the Beda-Benilde duel was a disservice to the coaches, players, and the fans.
Like other anomalies, this one also had an insult to injury.
At the 3:12 mark of the first quarter, San Beda's John Sajonia, after having the ball swiped clean away from him, elbowed Benilde's Raffy Celis in the head. The blow was whistled only as an offensive foul before a coach's challenge upgraded the harm to an unsportsmanlike foul.
How did three pairs of refs' eyes not see that contact under the basket?
In the UAAP, a blow to the head is almost always an automatic ejection. But in the NCAA, which doesn't seem to be hostile against acts that lead to concussions, it's play on.
Asked for comment after Benilde dropped to 6-4, coach Charles Tiu took the high road while San Beda team manager Jude Roque was unavailable as of posting time.
"Great game for San Beda. Sajonia and (Yukien) Andrada were great. We just have to be better," Tiu said.
What's not great, though, was the officiating.
Would it hurt for NCAA commish Quicho to call his UAAP counterpart, Jai Reyes, and compare notes on how to fix the errant officiating that is stealing the fun out of their leagues?
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