Clarifying rule changes

The PBA is implementing six rule changes for its 47th season opening on Sunday and teams are being briefed to make sure there is a clear understanding of the tweaks. The changes were approved by a Competition Committee that included NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio, Phoenix coach Topex Robinson, Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina, Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, Blackwater coach Ariel Vanguardia and Converge coach Jeff Cariaso as members. Coaches are rotated in the committee before the start of every season to review rules and proposed changes.

Last week, each team was represented in a rule review meeting at the PBA office. Starting yesterday, the PBA technical group began a “tour” of the six squads not represented in the Competition Committee to explain in detail the rule nuances through demos during their practice hours. NLEX and Meralco were visited yesterday. Today, the tour goes to TNT and Ginebra while tomorrow, it will be San Miguel Beer and Terrafirma. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is making sure there is total appreciation of the rules and changes.  “We’ll answer queries and make clarifications,” said PBA technical official Joey Guanio. Additionally, PBA supervisor of officials Bong Pascual is on coach Beaujing Acot’s Facebook vlog to elaborate on the six rule changes.

The first rule change involves an offensive player’s “side-swipe” motion to create contact on a defensive player’s extended arm and draw a shooting foul. The old rule awarded automatic two free throws. The new rule will consider it a regular, not a shooting, foul. Only if a team is in the penalty will it mean taking two free throws. It’s a rule that’s also implemented in the NBA to take away the acting job to fish for a shooting foul by players like James Harden.

The second rule change allows a referee to give a warning to a player who may have already incurred a flagrant foul or any player from the same team for any unsportsmanlike conduct. In the old rule, once a player or coach from the same team has been given a warning, a technical or flagrant foul, any succeeding unsportsmanlike conduct resulted in a technical foul. The PBA will still clarify the limit of warnings to be given a team.

The third rule change clamps down on flopping. In the old rule, floppers are only slapped a fine. In the new rule, they’re fined and given an outright non-unsportsmanlike technical foul. The fourth rule change allows a player located beyond the three-point arc to enter the paint once the ball is released by the free throw shooter. In the previous rule, he could move into the shaded area only when the ball touches the ring. The free throw shooter may not leave his position at the line until the ball touches the ring as in the old rule.

The fifth rule change calls for a deliberate foul on a defensive player stopping an offensive player without the ball in transition, regardless of clear path. Before, this was considered a duty foul and not considered deliberate. The advantage foul which means clear path for a player with the ball and deliberate foul both carry a penalty of two free throws and possession. Finally, a player who has control of the ball may not ask for a timeout lying on the floor. For a timeout to be recognized, a player’s feet must be planted on the court or he could be in a kneeling position.