… for false count in men’s basketball finals

Chimi Yugyel & Tshewang Rinchen 

Depending on what the Basketball Federation of Bhutan (BFB) decides, there could be a replay of the finals of the Thimphu Open Basketball Championship between Jachung and Zhoems or champions, Jachung could lose the trophy.

The runners up, Zhoems, have appealed to the federation to look into the false score count in the second quarter in favour of the winner, Jachung.

In the second quarter, 36 minutes 30 seconds, Jachung’s Rinzin Wangchuk dives in from the three-pointer lines and scores a lay-up. However, the lay-up entered from below the rim through the basket and fell back through it. The referee considered it as a score and awarded two points.

The match ended 95-94 with Jachung winning by a single point and drawing the attention of Zhoems on the false count.

A player from team Zhoems said that if the point difference was more than 10 points, they would have accepted the defeat. “Just because it was a one-point difference, we have submitted the letter to the office,’’ he said.

The appeal letter, addressed to the president of BFB, did not call for a replay, but stated that the false count should be deducted from Jachung. This, if done, could make Zhoems the winner.

Match officials did not want to comment, but confirmed that they have received the appeal letter on November 12, a day after the finals, played at the Swimming Pool sports complex in Thimphu.

According to the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA), the lay-up incident falls under the “Out of bounds violation.”  FIBA’s rule states, “If a player causes the entire ball to pass through the basket from below, it is a violation.” The penalty is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in at the place nearest to the infraction.

“Once any part of the ball within the cylinder from below rises above rim level, a violation has occurred, and the opposing team will inbound on the sideline at the free throw line extended, and the shot clock will remain the same.”

A player from team Zhoems said that they are still waiting for a response from the BFB office.

A player from Jachung said that they are calm about the appeal letter. Another player from the winning team said, “If we have to fight, we also have video as evidence where there were many fouls the officials did not count.”

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