THE National Collegiate Athletic Association is looking at tapping referees from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League for Season 94 of the basketball competition scheduled to open on July 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Perpetual Help’s Frank Gusi, who chairs the NCAA Management Committee, said these pool of game officials from the MPBL will take the place of the Basketball Referees Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities, which was tapped a season ago.
“The pool of referees from the MPBL will officiate this year,” said Gusi.
League commissioner Arturo “Bai” Cristobal, back at the helm for the second straight year, confirmed the recent development but stressed the NCAA board will only finalize it this week.
“The league will make the final decision this coming week,” said Cristobal.
The new pool of officials will be first employed right on Season 94’s very first game pitting defending champion San Beda with host Perpetual Help at 2 p.m., followed by the 4 p.m. encounter between San Sebastian and last year’s losing finalist Lyceum of the Philippines University.
The league will be officially ushered in at 12 noon.
Meanwhile, Gusi said the NCAA on Tour will continue this game with Perpetual Help, Letran-Calamba, Jose Rizal, Arellano U, and La Salle-Greenhills or San Sebastian-Cavite each hosting first round games.