Aside from what promises to be thrilling action when the PBA Governors’ Cup restarts on Wednesday, October 7, fans can also expect some new rules to be implemented by the league. This development is in accordance with FIBA updating its rule book recently and the PBA’s decision to officiate games using FIBA standards to help the players better adjust to the international game.
“Baka magtaka ang mga tao at sabihin nagpalit tayo ng rules in the middle of the season. Ginagawa natin ito para masanay ang mga players natin lalo na yung mga members ng Gilas sa bagong rules ng Fiba,” explained PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. “Sa November gagawin yung next window [FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers] so hopefully maka-adjust yung mga players natin.”
What Are the New Rules the PBA Will Implement?
The new rules are focused on updated classifications on fouls and technical fouls. Under the new FIBA guidelines, there will be no more unsportsmanlike fouls, as these kinds of fouls will now be classified into flagrant and disruptive.
- Flagrant fouls — These are fouls marked by excessive contact. These fouls will merit two free throws plus ball possession. A player whistled for two flagrant fouls is disqualified.
- Disruptive fouls — These are fouls that disrupt the flow of the game. Examples include holding a player to stop the game, fouling to stop the clock at the end of a quarter, and contact from behind or the side on a player advancing toward the basket with a clear path. These fouls will merit two free throws. Unlike flagrant fouls, multiple disruptive fouls won’t merit a disqualification.
Likewise, technical fouls are also split into two:
- Category 1 — Category 1 technical fouls are the more serious kind. Examples include showing disrespect to a game official, taunting, and provocative language and gestures. These technical fouls merit one free throw and count toward disqualification, with a player called for two of these thrown out of the game.
- Category 2 — Category 2 technical fouls are more administrative in nature and do not count toward disqualification. Examples include delay of game and hanging on the rim. These technical fouls also merit one free throw.
(Note: A player called for two Category 1 infractions is disqualified. The same penalty applies to a player whistled for one flagrant and one Category 1 technical.)
NLEX, TNT Headline PBA Restart
The NLEX Road Warriors will take on the Macau Giant Pandas when the league resumes Governors’ Cup action on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Tip-off is at 5:15 p.m. Following that game is a face-off between the TNT Tropang 5G and Terrafirma Dyip, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
