PBA grounds ‘Spiderman’

ARWIND Santos of San Miguel Beer goes for “Spiderman” dunk in this file photo. ROMAN PROSPERO

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is not yet done tweaking changes in its rulebook.

According to the recent memorandum released by the league Wednesday night, all players will now be prohibited to hang on the rim after every made dunk.

“A player, however, who hangs onto the rim after a dunk and places either or both of his feet onto the backboard, shall be assessed with an unsportsmanlike technical foul,” the PBA said in an officiall letter sent to all teams.

With this, the most prominent dunker in the league — Arwind Santos — will no longer be allowed to make his famous ‘Spiderman’ jam, where he is always putting his feet on the backboard before landing on the court.

Meanwhile, a player can only hang on the ring, backboard or its support to prevent injury to himself or another player downlow.

It was the latest rule change in the Asia’s first play-for-pay league following also the three major changes announced prior to the opener of the 44th season.

Starting this season, the PBA is already patterning its traveling violation with the International Basketball Federation in a bid to fit with the international play.

FIBA is implementing a 0-1-2 step rule in traveling violation, giving a player an extra gather step before the officials call it a turnover. With this, the PBA will have a fast-paced game as players will no longer be assesed with traveling violations more often.

Also one of the key rule changes announced by commissioner Willie Marcial is the goaltending call, which is now considered as a reviewable play from start to finish of the game.

The PBA will also grant timeouts to coaches through verbal gestures from now on, unlike in the past when officials only accept hand signs to allow a timeout.