May 04, 2023

PBA introducing new rules to make game more exciting

THE Philippine Basketball Association is looking at a set of proposed rule changes to be implemented on a trial basis during the PBA on Tour that kicks off with the NLEX-Blackwater tiff on May 21 at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

"As much as the teams will have the opportunity to try new combinations and game schemes, the league will take the opportunity to experiment new rules and rule interpretations with the objective of improving the PBA game and make it even more exciting," said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

Among the major proposed new rules or changes include the introduction of a "head coach challenge," parameters on "transition take foul," and on ejection from technical and flagrant fouls.

The proposals were drafted by the league commissioner with the help of the PBA technical team including deputy commissioner Eric Castro, technical consultant Joey Guanio, technical head Bong Pascual and operations senior officer Mauro Bengua, and were presented to coaches in a meeting Wednesday.

Present were Ginebra's Richard del Rosario, Blackwater's Junjie Ablan, Converge's McJour Luib, Magnolia's Tonyboy Espinosa, Rain or Shine's Caloy Garcia, San Miguel's Peter Martin, Terrafirma's Monch Gavieres, TNT's Bong Ravena, Meralco's Luigi Trillo, NLEX's Adonis Tierra, NorthPort's Waiyip Chong and Phoenix' Jon Jacinto.

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After its implementation during the preseason games, the proposals will go final scrutiny in a gab among the PBA officials and the members of the "competition committee" composed of coaches.

And then it will be forwarded to the PBA Board of Governors for formal resolution and approval for implementation starting Season 48.

"Part of the proposal was the scrapping of the players timeout, pero binaril ng mga coaches," said Castro.

"A major change or rule introduction is the head coach challenge. Gusto ito lahat ng coaches," Castro also said.

The Proposed Rule Changes/Rule Interpretations:

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1 RULE 5 - Section V - GAME CLOCK
Present rule:
The timing device shall be stopped after every basket during the last one minute
of the first, second and third quarters and the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime period.

Proposed change:
The timing device shall no longer be stopped during the last one minute of the first, second and third quarter.

2 RULE 8-B - Section VI - TEAM FOULS
Present rule:
Double personal fouls shall add to a player's total, but not to the team total.

Proposed change:
Double personal fouls shall be added not only to a player's total but also to the
team's total.

3 GOAL TENDING
Present rule:
On a goal tending or basket interference call, if after the review it is found out that
the call was erroneous this will result in an inadvertent whistle resulting in a jumpball at the center circle.

Proposed change:
a) There is immediate control of the ball after the whistle
The ball will be awarded to the team that has immediate control of the ball after the whistle.
b) No immediate control of the ball after the whistle
The resumption of the game will be jumpball at the center circle if neither team
did not gain control of the ball.

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c) The ball goes out of bounds after the whistle.
The ball will be awarded to the same team.

4 RULE 4 - Section XIV (b-5) - BACKCOURT VIOLATION THROW-IN SPOT
Present rule:
After the ball is out of bounds, the team shall designate a player to make the
throw-in. He shall make the throw-in at the spot out-of-bounds nearest where the ball crossed the boundary.

Proposed change:
After the ball is out of bounds, the team shall designate a player to make the
throw-in. He shall make the throw-in at the spot out-of-bounds nearest where the
violation occurs.

5 RULE 8 - Section V-k - INFRACTIONS SUBJECT TO EJECTION
Present rule:
A technical foul, unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul must be called for a
participant to be ejected. A player or coach may be ejected for:
k-1) Any unsportsmanlike acts where two technical fouls are assessed;
k-2) A flagrant foul penalty 2;
k-3) One technical foul and 1 flagrant foul penalty 1;
k-4) Two Flagrant foul penalty 1;
k-5) Any flagrant misconduct;
k-6) Physically contacting an official.
k-7) Two deliberate fouls and one technical foul;
k-8) Two deliberate fouls and one flagrant foul penalty 1.

Proposed change:
A technical foul, unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul must be called for a
participant to be ejected. A player or coach may be ejected for:
k-1) Any unsportsmanlike acts where three (3) technical fouls are assessed;
k-2) A flagrant foul penalty 2 (punching foul with contact);
k-3) Two (2) technical fouls and one (1) flagrant foul penalty 1;
k-4) Two (2) Flagrant fouls penalty 1 and one (1) technical foul;
k-5) Any flagrant misconduct;
k-6) Physically contacting an official.
k-7) Two (2) deliberate fouls (convertible to F1) and two (2) technical fouls;

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k-8) Two (2) deliberate fouls (convertible to F1) and two (2) flagrant fouls
penalty 1.
k-9) Two (2) deliberate fouls, one flagrant foul and one technical foul

6. HEAD COACH CHALLENGE
Present rule:
NONE

Proposed change:
A head coach will be allowed to challenge a call once per half (no carryover if
unused) during a game only if the team has full timeouts remaining. The following are allowed to be challenged:
a) Act of shooting / sideline
b) Foul (common foul / charging / blocking)
c) Travelling
d) Flopping
e) 8-second violation
f) Backcourt violation
g) Timeout / Held ball
h) Out-of-bounds / last touch
i) Shot clock remaining
If the challenge is UNSUCCESSFUL, the team will be charged with a FULL
TIMEOUT.
If the challenge is SUCCESSFUL, the team will not be charged with a
TIMEOUT, ball possession .

7. TRANSITION TAKE FOUL
Present rule:
Duty foul

Proposed change:
A transition take foul is an intentional foul committed by a defensive player to
deprive the offensive team of a fastbreak opportunity:
a) The defender commits a take foul (a foul in which the defender does not make
a play on the ball) against any offensive player.

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b) The foul is committed either (i) during a transition scoring opportunity, or (ii)
immediately following a change of possession and before the offensive team
has the opportunity to advance the ball.
c) The foul does not meet the criteria of advantage foul.
All transition take foul calls are subject to review.
Penalty for TRANSITION TAKE foul is one (1) free throw for the offended
player plus ball possession.

8. SHOTCLOCK 0.2, 0.1 - TIMING DEVICE
Present rule:
NONE

Proposed change:
If the shotclock shows 0.1 or 0.2, it is no longer playable.

9. THROWING THE BALL
Present rule
Automatic FFP2 infraction (with ejection)

Proposed change:
A player who throws the ball at an opponent hitting the player below the shoulder
level shall result in a Technical Foul. If the contact is above shoulder level, it will result in a FFP2 call.

10 EXCESSIVE TIMEOUT. Automatic technical foul for a team who will
call an excessive timeout.

Proposed change:
Automatic technical foul for a team who will call an excessive timeout. Following
the timeout, the ball will be awarded to the opposing team.

11 REMOVAL OF DELAY OF GAME WARNING IN THE LAST TWO MINUTES
Throw-in entry in the last 2 minutes shall result in an automatic technical foul. (SB)