Docomo player crying foul over ‘undeserved’ technical

Docomo player James Lee filed a complaint against a referee who officiated their game versus Diamond Auto Care in the 2008-2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The letter of complaint, which stemmed from technical foul called by referee Jess Pabula on Lee, was submitted to Basketball Association of Northern Marianas Islands president Elias Rangamar and BANMI Referee Association chairman Arnold Mesa Monday.

“On Friday [March 13], during a game between the Diamond Auto Fixers and Docomo, referee Jess Pabula gave me a technical foul in the middle of the third quarter after giving the basketball to him. When I asked why I was issued a technical foul after giving him the ball, he replied by stating that I handed the ball to him ‘a little too hard,’” Lee stated in a two-page letter of complaint.

“In my defense I handed the ball to him with no resistant or any looks or body language that might have seemed threatening, disrespectful, or harassing to the referee. In addition, I aided the referee by giving him the ball right after he called a foul on our opponent. So why would I retaliate on that,” Lee added.

The incident started after Diamond’s Bruce Berline missed his charity and Lee collared the rebound. Lee tried to protect the ball from Diamond’s Jawn Joyner, who reached in and was called for a foul.

Pabula went to the table officials to signal the violation called and when he returned to the court, Lee gave him the ball to start the inbound play.

In a telephone interview with Pabula, he said Lee could have bounced the ball to him, instead of handing him the leather with “force” and hitting his stomach.

Mesa, who said that the complaint will be discussed at their monthly meeting set for last night, interpreted Lee’s action as an “unsportsmanlike handling of the ball.” He added players are not supposed to make physical contact with referees on the court.

But Lee quoted Pabula as saying “you handed the ball to me hard and you hurt my feelings.”

“From my understanding and base on the definition of a ‘referee’ as well as the sports officials code of ethics, provided by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Article 1 states that ‘sports officials must be free of obligation to any interest other than the impartial and fair judging of sports competitions. Without equivocation, game decisions which are slanted by personal bias are dishonest and unacceptable,’” Lee said.

“In my opinion and based on the facts I had presented, referee Jess Pabula had made his call based on a personal bias and this case should be looked into, and a disciplinary action must be taken. In addition, I feel that his actions, in reference to being a referee, should not be taken lightly, given his calls could dictate the outcome of a game,” Lee added in his complaint letter.

Docomo led after the third period until the opening minutes of the fourth quarter before Diamond rallied and took an 84-78 win.

Saipan Tribune called Rangamar to get his comments on the letter, but was unavailable at press time.

But Budweiser caging commissioner Gabriel White said Lee’s complaint letter will not change the outcome of the game.

“Docomo’s team captain did not sign the official score sheet, indicating they were not protesting the game. So as far as the results of the match are concerned, these were the official and final results. A person can file a complaint to the proper authorities, and in this case to the referees association,” White said.

Lee reiterated he is not protesting the game, but is personally filing a complaint against a certain referee.