It turns out, the TNT Tropang 5G could’ve won Game 2 without playing an extra five minutes. This after video footage from media covering the PBA showed that Calvin Oftana was behind the four-point line when he was fouled by Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard Gian Mamuyac with 7.7 seconds remaining and Rain or Shine up by three, 99-96.
The officiating crew reviewed the play, determined Oftana was in the act of shooting, and awarded him three free throws. But the officials didn’t see that Oftana’s feet were outside the four-point line and, thus, gave him only three freebies when he should’ve had four.
Oftana, who finished with a game-high 39 points, calmly sank all three of his free throws to tie the game up after Rain or Shine appeared to be on their way to a stunning comeback victory. They still had their chance, but Mamuyac muffed a wide-open triple at the buzzer. TNT went on to win, 113-105, in overtime as Oftana and Kelly Williams delivered clutch triples to quell Rain or Shine’s bid for an upset.
PBA Admits It Missed Call, Oftana Should’ve Gotten Four Freebies
On Saturday, after videos and photos of Mamuyac’s foul on Oftana made rounds on social media, the PBA, through Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, released a statement admitting to the error, lamenting limitations in camera footage and vowing to do better moving forward.
“With 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation and Rain or Shine leading 99-96, a foul was called on Gian Mamuyac as he defended Calvin Oftana. The referees initiated a review to determine whether the foul occurred on a three-point attempt or from the four-point area,” the statement began. “Following the review, it was ruled that the foul occurred on a three-point shot attempt. Calvin Oftana was subsequently awarded three free throws, all of which he converted, sending the game into overtime.”
Castro then explained why the officials missed the crucial call, even after careful review and different replays.
“However, video footage from members of the media has surfaced, clearly indicating that Calvin Oftana was beyond the four-point line at the time of the foul—thus qualifying the play as a four-point shot attempt,” the statement further said. “Our official reviews are based on video feeds from our cameras from different angles. These serve as our sole basis for decision-making during in-game reviews. While we strive to provide accurate rulings, our assessments are inherently limited to the footage available within these camera perspectives.”
Castro ended by promising improvements to the “system” as the league endeavors to give fans, players, and teams “the highest standards of fairness and accuracy.”
“We deeply regret that this call was missed. This incident highlights that, despite the use of advanced equipment and multiple camera angles, blind spots can and do still exist within live game coverage.Our players, teams, and fans deserve the highest standards of fairness and accuracy. We acknowledge this lapse and commit to continuously improving our review systems to minimize such occurrences in the future,” the statement concluded.
