CHICAGO - As he perused through the box score following Ateneo's 81-74 victory over La Salle last Wednesday, one thing caught the attention of coach Tab Baldwin.
The Green Archers took 45 free throws against the Blue Eagles' 30.
"It worries me," coach Tab told me then.
READ Referees call foul on pay gap between men's, women's games
When asked to elaborate, he clammed up like a flood control witness before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Wisely choosing his battles, Tab understands that waging one against whistleblowers is a losing proposition.
Having watched its entirety, I don't believe that the officiating in the Ateneo-La Salle duel was horrible, but it was uneven to say the least.
WHISTLE CRISIS?
The physicality in that Rivalry Game was not only consensual, it was mutual. So I found it hard to reconcile one having 15 more free throws than the other when the clawing, pushing and shoving was equally ferocious.
In their 83-69 loss to UP last Sunday, the Blue Eagles shot more free throws, 28-27, and had four less fouls called at 22-26. In other words, another heavyweight battle that was just as intense was officiated evenly.
And that's what we hope for the referees to strive for moving forward.
Consistency.
Let those men in zebra stripes set the tone, establish what's allowed physically and whistle those calls whether it's early or late in the game.
While UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag, normally a quick responder, still hasn't replied to multiple calls and text messages, somebody from the league had an explanation, sort of, on the salary disparity between officials calling men's and women's games.
FAIR PAY.
The UAAP's narrative, I was told, is that their league spends more than rival NCAA which doesn't have women's basketball.
This argument is non sequitur and patently misleading. It's like saying, "I have a nasty, slimy cold but the other guy has tuberculosis."
I tried calling UAAP Season 88 commissioner Jai Reyes twice on Thursday night for clarification. No answer.
But I'm told that under his watch, there is a long-term program that would provide stable and increased pay for the refs,
That's great, but for now, the rates aren't the same.
I don't understand the logic of underpaying refs officiating women's games on the premise that the men's division is "harder." to officiate.
At a time when all tennis grand slams and other major sports events are striving for equal prizes for men's and women's tournaments, the UAAP has put up a three-tier salary scheme for its referees based on divisions that are classified according to the gender of the players they're officiating.
Pay, in this case, should be based largely on labor and not degree of difficulty. The distaff side also play four, 10-minute quarters and their court bears the same dimensions as the men's.
Cignal, sources told me, just renewed its broadcast rights deal with the UAAP for millions of pesos.
So, there is money. What's missing, apparently, is the willingness to champion equal pay.
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