SBP to extend validity of referees' ID by six months

The Referees' Academy of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has extended the validity of the identification cards of its accredited referees by six months.

In a memo addressed to its referees and regional directors, newly-installed head coach Jong Uichico has stressed that the extension of its expiration dates to June 30, 2021, provided that the expiration dates of these are from December 2019 to December 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic had took a toll on the game officials who failed to renew this year owing to the shutdown of all basketball-related activities, with the SBP will announce the latest development on renewal on its social media accounts.

"In the meantime, the Referees Academy will continue to innovate and think of ways to reach out to our referees to ensure their continued learnings and helped them further develop their skills using the digital platform," he said in the memo.

For him, it is just practical and logical to extend the SBP’s accreditation to its referees owing to the pandemic, where life has been hard for them as they have not whistled a game for the past nine months since the lockdown had started.

“Until basketball goes back to normal in terms of having games, I just hope that this is the time that we survive these times,” he said to Pinoyliga Tuesday evening.

PHOTO: SAMAHANG BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS