THE PBA admitted it made a mistake in awarding Calvin Oftana three free throws instead of four during the final seconds of the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Philippine Cup semifinals between TNT and Rain or Shine.
READ: Calvin Oftana could've won Game Two outright in regulation
In a statement released on Saturday morning, PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro acknowledged that four free throws should have been awarded to the Tropang 5G's Oftana with 7.7 seconds left in regulation when he was fouled by Elasto Painter Gian Mamuyac following videos and photos that surfaced from mediamen regarding the play.
"With 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation and Rain or Shine leading 99-96, a foul was called on Gian Mamuyac as he defended Calvin Oftana. The referees initiated a review to determine whether the foul occurred on a three-point attempt or from the four-point area.
"Following the review, it was ruled that the foul occurred on a three-point shot attempt. Calvin Oftana was subsequently awarded three free throws, all of which he converted, sending the game into overtime.
"However, video footage from members of the media has surfaced, clearly indicating that Calvin Oftana was beyond the four-point line at the time of the foul - thus qualifying the play as a four-point shot attempt."
READ: Oftana scores 39 as TNT frustrates Rain or Shine yet again in OT
TNT ultimately topped RoS in overtime to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series.
PBA explanation on decision
Castro explained that the league followed proper protocol when the referee initiated a review of Oftana's shot using a video of the game broadcast from different angles.
The league said the broadcast video was the sole basis in reviews during the course of the game, which, even with today's technology, has its limitations.
As such, it was those broadcast videos that were the sole basis in awarding three free throws to Oftana.
"Our official reviews are based on video feeds from our cameras from different angles. These serve as our sole basis for decision-making during in-game reviews. While we strive to provide accurate rulings, our assessments are inherently limited to the footage available within these camera perspectives," the league added.
Nonetheless, the PBA said it will continue to strive to prevent such occurences.
"We deeply regret that this call was missed. This incident highlights that, despite the use of advanced equipment and multiple camera angles, blind spots can and do still exist within live game coverage," Castro said.
“Our players, teams, and fans deserve the highest standards of fairness and accuracy. We acknowledge this lapse and commit to continuously improving our review systems to minimize such occurrences in the future,” Castro said.
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