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UAAP: Backers of UP Maroons reiterate calls for fair officiating

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/11/27/20181127-uaap.jpg"/><figcaption>According to a report received by the NowheretogobutUP Foundation, calls made in UP&#x27;s win over Adamson last Saturday &quot;may have had an impact on the outcome of the game.&quot; Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN Sports.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- The alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) are doubling-down on their calls for fair officiating in the UAAP Season 81 men&#x27;s basketball tournament, with the competition approaching its final stretch.The chairperson of the NowheretogobutUP Foundation, one of the most vocal backers of the UP Fighting Maroons, revealed Tuesday that they had received the initial report of the referee-consultants hired by their group.This comes after the Fighting Maroons slipped past Adamson University, 73-71, last Saturday to force a do-or-die game for a spot in the UAAP Season 81 finals.According to Atty. Agaton Uvero, the initial report revealed that calls made in the close contest &quot;may have had an impact on the outcome of the game.&quot;&quot;This is what we have always been wary of and what we want to avoid. As we said before, win or lose, we just want games that will be decided by the players, not the referees –– games that will be won by plays on the court, not by whistles on the sidelines,&quot; said Uvero.Uvero had announced earlier in the season that his group have tapped the services of veteran referees to monitor and evaluate the officiating in the Fighting Maroons&#x27; games.Their consultants noted &quot;not just the disturbing disparity in the fouls called against both teams, but the quality and timing of the calls that were made,&quot; said Uvero.&quot;The numbers, we believe, speak for themselves. But what is bothersome is these calls were being made in crucial junctures of the game,&quot; he added.Statistics released by the UAAP showed that 25 fouls were called on UP, to 12 against Adamson. The gap was widest in the first and last quarters: UP was called for 8 fouls in the first quarter to only 4 for Adamson. In the final frame, UP was again tagged for 8 fouls, while only 4 were called on the Falcons.Uvero believes that the calls made in the fourth quarter &quot;really changed the complexion of the game.&quot;&quot;Sana tingnan talaga ng UAAP,&quot; he appealed. &quot;Nakakabahala.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/11/26/final-4-tickets-adamson-up-rubber-match-already-sold-50332">READ: Tickets for Adamson-UP do-or-die game already sold out</a></li></ul>He further pointed out the timing of the calls, as UP was in penalty with still 7:12 to play in the game. Meanwhile, Adamson did not get its first team foul until the 5:27 mark.Uvero also pointed out that one of the referees assigned to the game had already been penalized before for &quot;bad calls.&quot; Ariel Bermeo was given a two-game ban by the UAAP in 2010 after officiating a controversial game between UP and National University. He was also among three officials cut by the PBA in 2013 for &quot;for serious repeated lapses in judgment in different games they officiated during the playoffs.&quot;The other game officials were Allan Manzano and Don Arguelles.Given the situation, Uvero is now urging the UAAP to tap &quot;third-party observers&quot; who will evaluate the performance of its referees, and to adopt the use of technology to track and study the calls made by its officials.&quot;We believe the UAAP should put an emphasis on improving the officiating and assuring the players and fans that they are doing everything to keep the game pure. This is extremely important to dispel rumors that gambling syndicates allegedly use underhanded methods to influence the results of the games,&quot; said Uvero.The Fighting Maroons will play the Soaring Falcons in a do-or-die game on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, with the winner advancing to the best-of-3 finals.Already waiting in the championship round are defending champion Ateneo de Manila University.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

The alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) are doubling-down on their calls for fair officiating in the UAAP Season 81 men's basketball tournament, with the competition approaching its final stretch.

The alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) are doubling-down on their calls for fair officiating in the UAAP Season 81 men's basketball tournament, with the competition approaching its final stretch.