REVIEW of goal tending and basket interference was introduced back in PBA Season 44 - a rule change applied in the video review and in the nullification of a basket in the TNT Tropang 5G's 99-96 escape win over San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Appearing at the Starting Lineup show on One News and Pilipinas Live Monday night, PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro made some clarifications from his statement in a press conference shortly after the game.
"We are here today to clarify further what transpired (Sunday night) regarding the goal tending and basket interference violation," Castro said. "I want to correct myself that we can no longer correct the goal tending and basket interference once the game clock has expired.
"Just to give you a background, during the 44th season back in 2019, we introduced a rule change that we can review the goal tending and basket interference at any time during the game with or without a call because prior to this, we can only review a goal tending and basket interference during the last two minutes
"Again, now not only during the last two minutes, buong game na."
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It was unfortunate that none of the three referees were not able to make a call when the questionable play happened with 56.1 seconds to go.
Moala Tautuaa went for a dunk, missed the shot and held on to the ring while the ball was in the air. The ring shook as Tautuaa grabbed it downwards then the ball fell into the hoop.
"Referee Mardy Montoya who was in a center position was certain it was not a basket interference, Rommel Gruta who was the trail referee and Jerry Narandan who was in the lead position, were not sure if there was a basket interference.
Upon review by the PBA Technical Committee on the next available deadball, which happened with 6.2 ticks left, the shot was nullified due to the basket interference.
From what could've been a 98-97 lead for San Miguel, the score went to a 97-96 advantage for TNT. And the Tropang 5G went on to preserve the win for the crucial head start in the best-of-seven series.
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Castro said San Miguel officials went to the PBA office early Monday morning to file a protest but did not push through because of the Sunday press conference "that supposedly pre-empted their protest."
