PBA DEPUTY commissioner Eric Castro clarified that the technical committee can review goaltending and basket interferences at any time during the game as seen in Game 1 of the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup finals where Mo Tautuaa’s dunk in the final seconds was nullified.
In an interview with Starting Live on Cignal TV on Monday, Castro said the rule has been in place for several years already that such instances can be reviewed in the last two minutes, which was expanded entering the 2019 season to include the rest of the game.
“Back in 2019 in Season 44, there was a rule change that we had regarding the basket interference and goaltending. With or without a call, one of the rule changes is we can initiate a review. Before kasi, during the last two minutes lang siya puwedeng i-review. Going into the 44th season and at present, the technical committee can initiate a possible goaltending and basket interference that might happen during the course of the game,” said Castro.
READ: PBA defends offensive interference call on Tautuaa dunk
Game 1 of the Philippine Cup finals drew controversy when a dunk by Tautuaa with 56 seconds left was deemed an offensive interference with only six seconds remaining in the ballgame. The Beermen were leading by one, 98-97, after that basket by Tautuaa, but later trailed by one, 97-96, due to the review of Tautuaa’s dunk.
TNT eventually captured Game 1 by three points, 99-96.
Castro said Tautuaa’s dunk was nullified only in the 6.2-second mark of the game not just because it happened in the deadball position but also because there was no initial call on the Tautuaa dunk after it occurred.
“Unfortunately, none of the three referees were able to make a call, specifically Mr. Marty Montoya who was in the center position, Rommel Gruta was in the trail position, and Jerry Narandan who was in the lead position. All three referees were unsure that there was a basket interference.”
“Kung meron lang isang referee na pumito that time during the 56-second mark, we could have stopped the game and outright, we could have reviewed it right away,” said Castro.
PBA supervisor of officials Bong Pascual added that there are no discussions yet on whether the three referees will be sanctioned.
"As of now, pag-uusapan pa siya kung bibigyan natin ng sanction," said Pascual.
Castro also confirmed that San Miguel came to the PBA office on Monday to file a protest but didn’t push through it after a press conference was held shortly after Game 1 to explain the call.
“San Miguel officials went to our office early this morning to file a protest. However, they did not push through with it because of the presscon that happened right after the game that supposedly pre-empted their protest,” Castro said.
“For the public, there was a protest letter that was submitted but again, it didn’t push through,” said Castro, who added that the Tautuaa case, from the PBA's standpoint, is already closed.
Castro backtracks on previous statement
Also in the program, Castro corrected his statements in Sunday’s press conference that a review can still be made on Tautuaa’s dunk after the time expired.
“Just want to correct myself. We can no longer correct the goaltending and basket interference once the game clock has expired. Again, let me repeat that, I want to correct myself that we can no longer correct the goaltending and basket interference once the game clock has expired,” said Castro.
“We have two exceptions pagdating sa kapag automatic review ng goaltending or basket interference. Number one, once your teammate gets the ball or the same team gets possession, if there is a miss ng referee na tumawag ng goaltending or basket interference, at itong pangalawa, once the game ended, the time has expired, you can no longer review it.”
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