Basketball
PBA suspends ref for controversial non-call in Powerade-Barako Bull knockout
AKTV/Paolo Papa
ThePBA has suspended referee Peter Balao for a non-call on Powerade import Omar Sneed during the crucial stages of the knockout match between Powerade and Barako Bull.
Willie Marcial, the league’s media bureau chief, relayed the news to InterAKTV.
“For his non-call, Balao will be suspended until the end of the season,” said Marcial.
According to Marcial, the missed call was very obvious and should not have escaped the attention of the referees, particularly Balao, who was in position to make the call.
In one play during the fourth quarter, Sneed fell down inside the shaded lane and wasn’t able to get up for a few seconds and should have been called for a three-second violation.
The Barako Bull camp was in an uproar, protesting the three-second non-call.
The Tigers eventually won the match, 99-93, to earn the right to face Meralco in another do-or-die encounter on Wednesday.
Center Don Allado took to Twitter after the game to blast the PBA and its refereeing.
“PBA games are fixed. They control who is in & who is out. It’s a disgrace to be in this league,” wrote Allado.
