Costly kick

You can bet that Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis never thought a kick could be so costly.

During the Tigers’ game against Alaska in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) last Oct. 28, Favis blew his top when import Omar Thomas’ transition basket was nullified and the all-time leading scorer in US junior college history was called for an offensive foul in a play that proved crucial.

"We were rallying," recalled Favis. "We cut Alaska’s lead to only four. Then it happened. Instead of a three-point play opportunity for us, Alaska got back possession and we weren’t in the game again."

In exasperation, Favis kicked the rolltech close to the Tigers’ bench and it broke. Favis was slapped a technical foul.

"What made me feel worse was when the referee came up to me after giving me a technical and admitted the foul on Omar was a wrong call," said Favis. "So I asked him why he hit me with a technical since it was a wrong call anyway. He told me the technical was for kicking the rolltech."

The rolltech is an expensive advertising device which costs about P27,000.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala recently issued a memorandum reminding team officials to be careful not to damage the rolltechs and warning them that fines will be slapped for destructive behavior.

The word is Favis will be made to pay P27,000 for the damaged rolltech. He will reportedly be fined P5,000 for kicking it. Favis will also be assessed P1,000 for the technical foul.

Incidentally, there’s an escalating penalty for technicals. The first technical carries a fine of P1,000. The second will mean a fine of P1,600 and the third, P2,400. I wonder if the league will impose a trip to a psychiatrist for anything more than three technicals.

Favis said he’s sorry for what he did and he’ll know better next time.

Still, he begged for understanding.

"I realize we’re in a period of adjustment," said Favis. "For instance, I’ve told our guys not to reach in because the chances are, they’ll get called for a foul and it’s too risky a thing to do. It’s like a 20 percent probability of success. We’re also learning to play defense with our legs and feet instead of our hands because of the no hand-check rule."

Favis explained that the Tigers like to use screens on offense and they usually don’t get the benefit of the call when contact is made off the picks. That, too, is something they’re working on.

"We’re a screening team," said Favis. "We use screens to get our motion offense going. We move without the ball, cut, slash and create shot opportunities. We believe in the PBA’s philosophy of being offense-oriented."

Sometimes, in the Tigers’ execution, they’re called for three-second violations because of multiple passes off multiple screens and Favis said he’s trying to cope. In one recent game, Coca-Cola was slapped eight three-second violations.

Favis said last season, he split his time with the national team using FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball) rules and his former PBA team, Barangay Ginebra. The adjustment to the rules was dramatic.

Eala himself admitted exposing the PBA players to international competitions has its good and bad points. In FIBA games, a lot of hand-checking is tolerated.

On defense, the PBA players can play tougher in FIBA games because they’re used to the no hand-check rule but on offense, they have to adjust because more contact is tolerated with the hands, noted Eala.

For Coca-Cola, the period of adjustment is taking a bit longer than the other teams.

As for Thomas, Favis said he’s a fit for the Tigers’ system.

"He’s getting used to our system," said Favis. "What I like about him is he’s just one of the guys. He’s a rookie. The PBA is the first league he’s playing in out of college. He’s learning and we like him."

The problem is Thomas thrives in an up-tempo game where he can put up big numbers. In junior college, he once scored 70 points, meaning the likelihood is it was an up-and-down game with a ton of opportunities to score on the break. The Tigers’ style of play is basically the half-court motion offense, which is marked by movement without the ball, screens, dribble-penetrations and cuts. It’s probably new to Thomas.

Favis made a name for himself as an astute scout and first assistant coach for San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, Coca-Cola and the national team. Now, he’s feeling the heat as the Tigers’ head coach while adjusting to his new role.

One thing sure about Favis is he does his homework. Sooner or later, he’ll get over the hump and the Tigers will start growling like they’ve never growled before.