National Basketball Championships end in controversy

Mar 21, 2016 Sports

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By Edison Jefford
The National Basketball Championships: The Road to Mecca III ended in controversy Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall after Linden’s Retrieve Raiders abandoned the game with 9:18 left on the game clock to protest what they believe was biased officiating.

Down 51-54 in the national final against Colts, the Linden-based team left the court after referee, Adrian George handed Jason Alonzo double technical fouls for his aggression after George made a previous call. Alonzo was visibly aggrieved.
Following the calls, other players from Raiders were incensed with the referees and the team left the court, abandoning the game as a result. Raiders’ supporters then started to throw chairs, bottles and other items on the court, bringing the game into disrepute.
After a long lull, President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, managed to convince Raiders to return to the Court. Hinds then held a mid-court meeting with all the referees and the video of what transpired was requested.
After reviewing the video, Hinds felt that the referees’ calls against Raiders were unwarranted. It vindicated Raiders, but sparked another protest from the opposing Colts, which followed Raiders earlier action and left the court. This ended the game with no result.
This drama unfolded as the three-quarter packed Sports Hall waited for a little under one hour for the game to resume. Unfortunately, it never did. An otherwise keen contest became a damp squib after every preceding activity had the set the tone for a good game.
Candace Fields had wooed the crowed with her rendition of the National Anthem and performers were setting up a riveting climax to the national tournament. Pacesetters had managed to squeeze pass Ravens 78-76 for the third place prize.
And in the feature game, the two teams traded points in first quarter with Colts playing half court defensive press and up-tempo offence and Raiders ‘bigs’ clogging the paint to balance the contest. Raiders led 18-14 after the first quarter.
Shelroy Thomas scored seven straight points, including a dagger three-point jumper to put Colts up 23-22. Colts took a 10-point 32-22 lead with Dave Causway three-pointer that capped an 18-4 run. Alonzo finished a put-back that cut Colts lead 31-37 at halftime.
Alonzo banged one hard off the glass after Abdulla Hamid nailed a three-pointer for 7-0 run that put Raiders up 38-37 early in third period.
The two teams continued to trade points until the issue with the referees and teams developed to bring an unfortunate end to the game.
The GABF is affiliated to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). FIBA rules govern the GABF tournaments. Below is the FIBA rule on protest procedure:
FIBA Rule on Protest Procedure
If, during a FIBA official competition, a team believes its interests have been adversely affected by a decision of an official [referee or umpire(s)] or by any event that took place during a game, it must proceed in the following manner:
C.1 The captain (CAP) of that team shall, immediately at the end of the game, inform the referee that his team is protesting against the result of the game and sign the scoresheet in the space marked ‘Captain’s signature in case of protest’.
To make this protest valid, it is necessary for the official representative of the national federation or the club to give confirmation of this protest in writing. This must be made within 20 minutes following the end of the game.
Detailed explanations are not necessary. It is sufficient to write: ‘The national federation (or club) X protests against the result of the game between the teams X and Y’. Then he shall deposit with the FIBA representative or with the President of the Technical Committee, a sum equivalent to CHF 1,500, as security.
The national federation of the team or the club in question must submit to the FIBA representative or to the Presidentof the Technical Committee the text of its protest within 1 hour following the end of the game.
If the decision of the Technical Committee is in favour of the protesting team, the deposit will be refunded.
C.2 The referee shall, within 1 hour following the end of the game, report the incident, which leads to the protest, to the FIBA representative or to the President of the Technical Committee.
C.3 Should the national federation of the team or the club in question, or that of the opposing team or club, not be in agreement with the decision of the Technical Committee, it may then address an appeal to the Jury of Appeal.
To make this appeal valid, it must be made, in writing, within 20 minutes following the delivery of the decision of the Technical Committee and be accompanied by a deposit equivalent to CHF 3,000, as security.
If the decision of the Jury of Appeal is in favour of the appealing team, the deposit will be refunded.
C.4 Videos, films, pictures or any equipment, visual, electronic, digital, or otherwise, may be used to determine responsibility in matters of discipline or for educational (training) purposes only after the game has ended.

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