Contributed by reader
Controversial refereeing marred a recent basketball match where Anglican High School (AHS) edged out Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) 49-48. A lot was at stake in the game with both teams in contention for a spot in the quarter-finals of the National B Division Basketball Championship.
This recalls another refereeing controversy going back to a match held last year in the National C Division, where a last second shot by a Woodgrove Secondary player was counted despite errors in time keeping.
A few incidents in the last two quarters of the game made RGS coach Guangyi furious as he felt that AHS were handed a great advantage in the final moments. These calls came on top of other dubious calls throughout the game.
Incident 1: (3rd quarter 4m32s)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4x8AJ72FD0
While RGS was defending, AHS #5 set up a screen for PG #10. The screen was not established and it happened that RGS defensive player #7 crashed into the screen. The AHS #5 fell to the ground in a dramatic way. A foul was called on the RGS #7 instead of the AHS #5.
It was clearly a badly executed screen with the screener at the wrong position and still moving while setting up the screen.
Incident 2: (4th Quarter, 4m23s)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmHrqnwNWag
Hannah Ng went for a breakaway lay-up, and the AHS #6 made contact with her. A call from the tailing referee was clearly heard, while the front leading referee stopped and looked at the trailing referee. Although the foul was obvious, and the referee had even blown her whistle to make a call, she changed her mind.
Incident 3: (4th Quarter, 16.9secs)
With 16.9secs on the clock, in the crucial moments of the game, RGS called a time-out and set up a play. Hannah Ng managed to find a place under basket for a lay-in.
However, it was clearly seen that the AHS #5 slapped her shoulder while Hannah was making the shot. The basket tied the game and if the foul had been called and the free throw awarded, there would be a chance for RGS to take the lead, which would have made a the difference in the game.
Incident 4: (4th Quarter, 6.2s)
[Violation of FIBA Official Rules, ART 18.2.4 & ART 18.2.5]
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6DzDx7uQmc
Cross-referencing to the FIBA Official Rules, as quoted below:
[Art 18.2.4: A time-out opportunity ends when the ball is at the disposal of a player for a throw-in or a first or only free throw]
[Art 18.2.5: Two (2) time-outs may be granted to each team at any time during the first half; three (3) time-outs at any time during the second half and one (1) during each extra period.]
After RGS #9 Hannah Ng made the basket to tie the game, AHS started the ball quickly. AHS managed to bring the ball up to half court and suddenly a 3rd time-out was awarded to AHS. It was obvious that AHS called for a time-out after the throw in yet the time-out was given.
Refer to the following videos:
AHS first time-out in 3rd Quarter, 4min38sec left on the clock.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ONCUWA2Zsk
AHS second time-out at the 5min39secs mark of 4th Quarter.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8Gmo7dZ2A
RGS first time-out in 4th Quarter 7min36sec
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nkjMdGqeBc
RGS second Time-out in 4th Quarter 36.7sec httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNdlZEQq5N4
RGS third time-out in 4th Quarter 16.9sec
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkCoUiEtuQM
Incident 5: (4th Quarter, 6.2s)
After AHS called for a 3rd time-out, AHS attempted a throw-in at mid court. RGS #9 Hannah Ng managed to slap the in-bound pass out. The game clock did not move at all although the ball had already come into contact with the player on court. It could have wound down 0.5s, to 1s on the clock and mount extra pressure on AHS.
Incident 6: (4th Quarter, 6.2s)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCJiRwZ5COM
[Violation of FIBA Official Rules, ART 18.2.4 & ART 18.2.5]
[Art 18.2.4: A time-out opportunity ends when the ball is at the disposal of a player for a throw-in or a first or only free throw]
[Art 18.2.5: Two (2) time-outs may be granted to each team at any time during the first half; three (3) time-outs at any time during the second half and one (1) during each extra period.]
After the first attempted throw-in, the AHS #6 received the ball from the referee again. With the tall Hannah blocking her view, she had difficulty in finding a teammate to pass to for the throw-in. With the 5-second violation winding down to only 1 second, the 4TH TIME-OUT was awarded.
Although the RGS coach made a protest at the official table, the senior referee choose to stand near the game clock and did not clarify with the table officials.
Incident 7:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWj_5KoXtdI
AHS managed to throw in successfully, and the ball reached the hands of the AHS #5. She drove in and two RGS players were guarding her. With the slightest contact, a foul was called on the RGS #5. If they were to be consistent, the same type of foul should be already been called while Hannah was making the last under basket.
Although there are qualified FIBA referees refereeing the game, questionable calls are affecting the outcome of the match.
and theres an other article bout the primary school nationals game..
how can the refree change the result 1day after the game?this is a total nuisance
hi guys, saw the very interesting articles and comments and here are my comments:-
1) I understand all of your fustrations. I have been a player, and I am also a referee. Walked in both pair of shoes and I guess I can feel for both parties.
These all boils down to communication. The problem with referees of Singapore, they do not communicate. They keep to themselves what they learn from the FIBA rulebook and just call whatever they know from there, thinking that they are higher class of all other basketball idiots out there dribbling the ball.
I have seen a referee who is very popular amongst the players- because he bothers to explain why he called his calls in a nice manner to the players.
2) Sometimes, it’s just down to their interpretation of the rules. For example, the 3 seconds rule- for BAS referees, i don’t know why, no advantage = no call. For them, no advantage means no ball possession inside restricted zone. You go inside the zone, don’t get ball, won’t get called. Once you touch the ball- TWEET! 3 SECONDS VIOLATION. Once you meet a team with 3 centers and 2 shooters- GOD BLESS your team 😀
3) Sometimes, it’s just how players interpret the calls. I remember some incidents when I was playing ball and the person hit hard on my hand after I release the shot, before I land. The person say it was clean, as I have released the shot. hm.. That’s a norm because people invent made-believe rules. Basketball rules are evolving so quickly that people have different versions of the game. Can anyone remember the saying- the hand is part of the ball?
4) I do agree that REFEREES ARE HUMAN TOO. Refereeing mistakes are part of the game. That is WHY the FIBA still would not allow technical equipments to be actively controlling the result of the game (EXCEPT for the very vital call- say maybe whether the last ball will count for a vital score?)
5) However, I also think that some referees are too complacent. Egoistic. Haughty and these kind of culture should stop in order for the sport to blossom. Have you ever wondered why despites so many complaints, protests, the game result still went ahead and protest left unjustified? hm… IT IS DUE TO THESE KIND OF REFEREES THAT MADE REFEREES SEEMED BIASED/BRIBED EVEN THOUGH THE CALLS ARE NOT CALLED WRONGLY ON PURPOSE.
6) Some coaches and players have themselves to blame too for being too aggressive. I have officiated in recent days and this player was playing under 19 game. He never failed to give rude comments against the referees throughout the tournament, despite several technical fouls, pointing his ‘elegant’ fingers to the officials even though the officials had made the correct call against him (even his coach believed so). Couldn’t believe he is still a minor- the coach did not request him to apologize and amazingly let the matter rest. How could you let such players represent Singapore in the YOG? Oh btw, he IS one of our National Youth Players.
7) Officials have been calling on the game for a long time, there are complaints, years after years, improvements are claimed to be made, but yet protests seemingly increased. People are getting more particular about calls that they believed to have changed the game’s results. The referee might have been bribed, or he may be having those bad call days, or just purely lacking of knowledge in his calls. who knows?
8) I would say, if you’re a basketball enthusiast, download the rule-book from http://www.fiba.com for your own reference, to see if the referee had made the correct call. In addition, also know why the referee made such calls. It is not easy to manage a game, just like it is not easy for you guys to manage your schoolwork, for some, work. Know if the call is being made deliberately, unintentionally, or just barely lack of knowledge of the rules. Yes, the referee has to be flexible with the rules because the rules are just guidelines, but the referee should know ALL the guidelines by heart before being flexible with the rules as guidelines.
9) On an ending note, Players, Play your ball, Score your basket, Set a good play, good screen, Fight for your rebound, Make a good pass. Earn your Medals. The rest doesn’t matter.
Coaches, know your role, play your strategy, win with class, lose with class, be a role model, coach your players well, ON AND OFF the court.
Referees, be impartial- be professional at all times. Good calls are made, bad calls cant be taken back. Call what you really see and see what you have called- only after the game. Reflect on what happened and improve the next game.
The referees are not kings of the court, neither are the players, nor the coach. All three co-exists and are equally important. As FIBA states, it is with the cooperation of all three parties that a good game of basketball would exist.
Hence, should all these parties do their part, such conflict will decrease in Singapore playground 🙂
Hey bball, what school do you play for?
I know you are frustrated over losing, but you have got to realise that the Anglican players work hard too. It’s not fair to them as well that their efforts receive no recognition.
look , we did not blame anything on ahs or what but it happen so often that this kind of thing always happen during ahs matches . it isnt anglican weather ahs bribed referees anot. additionally, i do not think that ahs would bribe the referees. ahs is strong enough to win alot of teams, they would not need to bribe the referees. however, ahs should be friendly as in saying things but not doing sacarstic things towards the losing team. i had seen that alot of times. nonetheless, anglican is strong, and losing to them, we cannot blame anyone. i believe it’s just the referees
This is obviously an article that is posted by the RGS side. If you guys watched the game, you would have noticed that there were also many uncalled fouls for AHS. Yet, they didn’t really complain about this like what the RGS people are doing.
& if AHS really bribed referees, then why didn’t their Bboys win dunman and get the 3rd place?
IN NETBALL THEY ARE BIAS TOO .! THEY WASTED OUR HARD WORKS ! WHAT IS THIS. IMAGINE LOSING WITHOUT A GOOD REASON. SO WHAT THEY ARE BETTER THAN US? THEY SHOULD AT LEAST LET US PLAY A GOOD GAME. MAYBE WE CAN WIN ? THEY WILL NEVER KNOW . AHS IS ALWAYS ON THIS KInd OF NEWS ! THEY ARE SERIOUSLY ARROGANT ! JUST BECAUSE OF THIS, I THINK THEY ARE TOO MUCH . THEY WANTED TO TRASH EVERY SCHOOL WITH 100POINTS ? WTH . TRY IT MAN ! SO WHAT YOU’RE GOOD ?! YOU’rE STILL THE SAME AS OTHER BASKETBALLERS . YOU LNOW WE ALL ARE BASKETBALLERS . WE MUsT pLAY A FRIENDLY GAME . AND NOT SOMETHING LIKE THIS , UNSPORTMANSHIP , UNFRIENDLY , EVERYTHING IS TOWARDS YOU ALL .
I’M SURE YOU ALL DON’T WANNA WIN A GAME BY THIS KIND OF JUDGING . IT’S TOTALLY UNFAIR . IF ONE DAY YOUR TEAM MATES GOT FOULED OUT WITH THIS KIND OF EXCUSE, YOU WILL TOO BE UPSET OKAY .
good game girls, just let it go
also some people say that this article is biased towards rgs. i agree with what you say but unless you watch the whole game, you would not have any idea whether or not there were really fouls called on AHS that was not put up. By saying that this is biased towards rgs, in that sense you are being biased towards AHS. so stop criticizing what others write. =.=