UAAP women's basketball coaches cried foul on the pay disparity for referees for men's and women's games.
"I don't think that's right. They have to review and re-evaluate that because it sends the wrong message," University of Santo Tomas coach Haydee Ong said.
SPIN.ph reported on Thursday the changes in terms of game officials' rates, with the league now paying P3,000 for men's games, P2,500 for boys' matches, and P2,000 for the women's and girls' assignments.
READ: Referees call foul on pay gap between UAAP men's, women's games
It's a gap that is in contrast from previous years when officials received P2,500 per game regardless of division.
UAAP commissioner Jai Reyes justified the change as a matter of "difficulty on the division they're officiating," citing the supposed faster pace of male divisions.
Basketball is basketball
But women's coaches were quick to clap back.
"I don't think (women's games) are a much harder game to officiate," argued La Salle coach Cholo Villanueva. "We are playing the same game. Pace might be quicker, but the decision-making of the referees is going to be the same."
National U coach DA Olan also wondered if the pay gap would affect the quality of refereeing, especially with the men's games being put at a premium over the women's division.
"Baka mag-iba rin ang quality ng officiating 'pag magkaiba ang pay nila. So for me, it should be the same pay," he said.
Ateneo coach LA Mumar shared that he has already elevated the matter to Em Fernandez, the school's representative to the Board of Managing Directors, in hopes that the decision will be overturned.
Ong stated that creating the referee pay gap erases the strides the UAAP has made in recent years, especially in terms of women empowerment and levelling the playing field among genders.
"Wala namang referees na specific lang sa men's at women's divisions. Kahit sa FIBA, same lang yan. The pace may be faster, but it also offers different challenges," she said.
"Kaya nga sinasabi namin lagi sa referees, pituhan niyo kami as a basketball team, not as a women's basketball team."
This also highlighted the stigma when it comes to the perception of women's games, as the discrepancy for referees' salaries magnifies the connotation of it being inferior to men's matches.
"Ang tagal na naming pinaglalaban ito, pero meron pa rin palang ganoong dating. Nasa seniors division na kami, but we're somewhat being treated as a lesser priority just because it's women that are playing," lamented UST's champion coach.
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