In fact, on team USA’s scrimmage or practices, they always bring in FIBA referees from other countries so that they would be able to know their nuances as well as for the players to adjust and interact with certain officials. Sounds expensive, but hey!, it’s team USA, they got a very good (if not excellent) financial capability.

@3stars. P’re, I don’t really know, and I don’t think it’s also fair to say that it only happens in Manila. I think a good reference here was the tightness of the referees on game one of the finals. That’s because the calls made by the referees are always based on judgement calls, and the pace of the game at times affects it. So if there’s a conspiracy behind those calls, it’s very hard to conclude that there really is something’s fishy going on. Unless, we can come up with such very compelling evidence.

Again, there’s also the culture factor. It’s alright if the game is physical on certain cultures. In others, it’s not. That’s why I read some comments that says this guy made a dirty play, but when I saw it, I don’t think there’s anything dirty about it. You get the picture.

But I think they should do the orientation/interpretation of the rules at the start of the tournament not at the start of each game. So that teams will have time to prepare.

But in reality, whenever there’s a melee/fracas or even a protest made by a team after a game, the refs will adjust their calls for the succeeding games. The refs should be consistent in interpreting the rules. the league should not not give in.

I think some of the teams also scout the referees. They can exploit a ref’s tendencies/judgments.

Beyond the drama,… a more objective press release from ABL please.

Yeah, the officiating of ABL needs an upgrade

Thanks

Anyway, like most readers already know…experienced players and coaches need to adapt to the refs. Except for blatant biasness….everything else, good calls, bad calls, no calls is all a part of the in-game adjustment and management.

Thats also why vision and judgement are not real issues, the poor calls are the inconsistent ones, that the teams can’t adjust to.

i think all of us agree that this doesnt happen solely on patriots ground

what bothers me the most is that its the same press release from abl website..with the author questioning the credibility of the referees is the same as questioning the credibility of the organization itself, where referees are a vital part… isnt it self incriminating

Referees officiating at these levels generally call it both ways, regardless of how they interpret the contact rules. There are good and there are better refs, but as they are under a microscope on these bigger stages, they are not biased as they will be running their last game if they are. Savvy players pick up on individual officiating nuances and know what they can get away with. This is part of becoming a “game-wise” player. Not coincidentally, the best clutch players are in this group, and often get to the foul line at crucial moments.

The second point is that the better referees, whether under US or FIBA rules (from experience), will tell the team captains before the game starts, how they will call the game (e.g. “if you reach around the back I will call it”, “I will call the lane violations”, etc.). To reduce the unpredictability factor, it would be good for the ABL referees to consistently adapt this practice so as to avoid protests of perceived ommitted or committed calls later, and still allow them to officiate as they interpret the rules or in the style they prefer.

Strictly my opinion.

Also, it would be a key to keep the core of their respective teams together. A good example is the Slingers, they should keep Jeffers, LeBlanc, and Al Vergara as well as Desmond Oh, Marcus Ng, and Pathman. I also expect that the Patriots will try to keep Dixon and Freeman for next season.