ASSURING fair and honest officiating for the basketball tournament, the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) has tapped the officiating services of the National Basketball Referees Organization (Nabro).

The BBEAL technical committee in a meeting last week also appointed Antonio del Monte as commissioner of the men's and women's basketball tournament in an effort to enforce strict officiating in the league's center piece tournament.

Cebu inmates' tribute to Michael Jackson
For minute updates follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Del Monte, who also serves as Nabro's head in the city, after his appointment as the commissioner said 11 referees from their organization including one outsider will be calling the shots for the duration of the tournament.

"We will be having one reinforcement from the outside who is also a Baguio resident in the name of Jonathan Pumar during the tournament," del Monte said.

Pumar, an international accredited basketball referee, is a member of another basketball referees organization in the city.

Del Monte added that the local Nabro will call the shots during the elimination phase of the tournament and will have reinforcement from the national pool during the semifinals and championship match.

It can be recalled that referees from the Basketball Association of the Philippines drew the ire of several BBEAL member schools because of alleged call inconsistencies.

The move is aimed to enforce strict officiating in the 23rd season of the BBEAL basketball competition.

League Commissioner Danny Soria earlier said he will instruct the referees to be doubly strict on hard fouls, which could endanger the lives and safety of players.

"We will not tolerate dirty players in this league. They would be immediately be ejected if we find them intentionally doing it," said Soria. (Roderick Osis)