Coaches can now ask game officials for a review of plays as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines is set to adopt a challenge system for the basketball events of Season 85.
UAAP basketball commissioner Richard Bachmann made the announcement, saying that they will implement the challenge rule in both men’s and women’s divisions to adhere to the standards of the International Basketball Federation.
“Basically, it’s part of the new FIBA rules and the UAAP is 100 percent compliant to the FIBA rules so we added the challenge,” Bachmann said in a meeting with UAAP coaches last Friday at Adamson University.
The challenge system is one of the latest rules to be included in FIBA’s 2022 rulebook that will be released on 1 October, which coincides with the opening of the brand-new UAAP season.
The UAAP, in fact, will be the one of the first leagues in the world to implement the challenge system, giving game officials a chance to minimize human errors that will pave the way for an honest and very transparent officiating.
Under the system, coaches will be given one challenge apiece for the whole duration of the match regardless if their attempt is successful or not.
Assistant coach Potit de Vera of reigning champion University of the Philippines is thrilled over the inclusion of the latest innovation.
“Given the privilege to have one, it’s gonna be interesting how the coaches will use it. After all, you only have one challenge so you have to use it wisely,” De Vera said.
University of Santo Tomas women’s team head coach Haydee Ong also sees a lot of positives over this new innovation.
“This will be a huge advantage to the officiating, especially in the women’s division. At least we can have transparent calls when the game is on the line,” said Ong, a former national team tactician.