Lady refs make their mark

MANILA, Philippines - For PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa, the recent addition of female referees Janine Nicandro and Edith Boticario to the pool of 16 arbiters wasn’t only to reward their outstanding performance in the D-League but also a challenge for their male counterparts to step up.

Nicandro, 23, and Boticario, 29, were elevated from the D-League to make their PBA debut in the ongoing Governors Cup. From seven lady referees in the D-League last season, the cast dwindled to three with Nicandro and Boticario eventually getting the call to move up.

So far, they’ve acquitted themselves. Nicandro’s first appearance was marked by a call on Mark Borboran, whistled for a technical foul, during Meralco’s 108-103 win over Phoenix last July 15. And last Sunday, Boticario didn’t hesitate to slap a flagrant foul 1 on Alaska import LaDontae Henton for making contact on Sol Mercado’s foot in his landing spot after attempting a three-pointer in the fourth period of the Aces’ 109-100 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra. With the conference only two weeks old, both referees are drawing rave reviews for their guts, decisiveness and composure.

Nicandro played basketball and volleyball at the Laguna State Polytechnic University in San Pablo City then was invited to try her luck as a referee by former PBA official Celso Rivera, a Pagsanjan townmate. “After graduation, I worked as a sales agent with an LPG company but that lasted only a year,” she said. “I became a referee in barangay and company leagues in Laguna then I went to Manila to try out in the D-League.”

Nicandro, the oldest of three children, was determined to make good for her family. Her father Joseph was a banca guide in Pagsanjan Falls tours in his younger days and is now a full-time carpenter while mother Mercy is a housewife. She worked tirelessly in the D-League for three conferences then got her promotion.

“I owe a lot to Commissioner Narvasa for giving me a break,” said Nicandro. “I’m grateful to (D-League tournament director) Eric Castro and (D-League supervisor of officials) Boy Cruz for their teachings, advice and guidance. I wouldn’t be in the PBA today without their support.”

Nicandro said if she had to choose a referee idol, it would be Lauren Holtkamp, only the third full-time lady arbiter in NBA history. Holtkamp, 35, worked five years in the NBA D-League and four in the WNBA before moving up to the NBA for the 2014-15 season. “From observing Holtkamp, I’ve learned to be focused,” she said. “I want to be decisive in making calls with no hesitation. Before every game, I make it a point to kiss my rosary for God to give me strength and wisdom. It’s my ritual.”

Nicandro said the hardest call to make is the block or charge. “It’s about time and distance,” she said. “I have to be in the right position to make the call.” She said the technical foul she called on Borboran was for using profane language. “I called a foul and he complained using foul language so I gave a technical right away,” she said. “He didn’t complain. I think he knew why I called it.”

Boticario took up civil engineering at Camarines Norte State College then transferred to the University of Makati to earn a degree in physical wellness in 2012. Aside from her PBA job, she coaches the University of Makati women’s basketball varsity which has won the ALCU (Association of Local Colleges and Universities) title the last two seasons.

“I played two years in Camarines Norte and two years at UMak as a scholar but at 5-3, I wasn’t tall enough to be good in basketball so I turned to coaching and refereeing,” said Boticario. “I’ve now coached UMak the last four years and I’ve been a referee the last 12. I became a licensed FIBA referee in 2012 and last year, worked the FIBA Asia Championships for women. In 2014, I was invited by Boy Cruz to work in the D-League. At first, I didn’t join but when he called a second time, I decided to try it out. I worked four conferences in the D-League before moving to the PBA.”