PBA to introduce new rules

The Daily Tribune
09/07/2007

The six-man competition committee of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) yesterday approved five rules that will increase the excitement of the game and will suit to the international brand of play following the country’s ninth place finish in the recent International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia Olynpic Qualifying tournament.

Composed of PBA operations chief Rickie Santos, technical chief Perry Martinez, coaches’ representative Tim Cone, team managers’ representative Samboy Lim, referees’ supervisor Gregorio Llaguno and interim deputy commissioner lawyer Chito Salud, the body will tackle the proposed amendments in a scheduled board meeting in Macau on Sept. 26.

“These rules are still have to be evaluated,” Santos said. “If there are negative reactions, I’m sure the board will hear them and will ultimately decide what will work for the PBA and what will not.”

The primary proposal is drawing the three-point line closer to the basket. From the current professional distance of 22 feet, the rainbow territory will be moved two feet closer to suit Fiba’s standard of 20 feet and six inches.

Also carried in the proposal are: Deeming the ball free of interference after it has touched the cylinder of the basket, changing the shape of the three-second area to trapezoid from rectangle, allowing some form of hand checking by the defense, which is strictly prohibited in the professional ranks such as the PBA and the NBA.

Another proposal is that a team needs to commit two personal fouls in the last two minutes of every quarter before entering the penalty situation. Each team’s fouls situation will also be carried out in extension should there be an overtime. Arman Carandang