UAAP suspends ref who called unsportsmanlike foul on Adamson

MANILA, Philippines — The referee who called the controversial unsportsmanlike foul on Adamson University’s Gian Abrigo on Wednesday, July 24, has been suspended by the UAAP.

A memo released by the league on Friday, July 26 said Francisco Olivar’s decision to whistle Abrigo for a foul while the Soaring Falcons were charging hard “resulted in an advantage to La Salle, which eventually won the game.”

“Mr. Olivar is a qualified and experienced referee who officiates at both local and international games,” UAAP commissioner Chito Loyzaga said. “Unfortunately, at the Adamson/De La Salle game, he made an untimely decision to call a foul in the last 15 seconds of the game.” 

Loyzaga said that while Olivar was right in basing his call on the UAAP In-house Basketball rule, there were questions on his decision to render a foul in such a crucial part of the match.

“One of the basic principles of the UAAP Board is to have the outcomes of all games decided by the players and not by the referees,” Loyzaga wrote. 

“Taking this within the context of the ADU-DLSU game, maintaining the momentum of play in the last two minutes, sometimes achieved by refraining from having to call fouls, would increase the chances of having the players decide the outcome of the game.”

The commissioner took full responsibility for Olivar’s decision but suspended the referee from officiating for 3 game days.

Loyzaga also apologized to the Adamson community, including coach Leo Austria, for the refereeing blunder. – Rappler.com