UAAP Resolves Clock Glitch After Disruptions on Opening Day
UAAP Season 88 tipped off with high anticipation last Saturday, September 20, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, but the opening day was marred by technical issues with the game clock that disrupted both men’s basketball matchups.
The clock malfunction occurred multiple times during the double-header featuring FEU vs. Ateneo and La Salle vs. Adamson. While both games continued as scheduled, the issues were most glaring during the final moments of regulation in the FEU-Ateneo contest.
With Ateneo clinging to a 74-72 lead and just 9.5 seconds left on the clock, FEU regained possession following a key defensive stop highlighted by a block from Mo Konateh. As FEU brought the ball up, the game clock appeared to freeze at 8.9 seconds for what was later manually timed by ALL-STAR at 3.7 seconds. The delay allowed the Tamaraws more breathing room to set up their final play, which ended with Jorick Bautista sinking a tough midrange jumper to tie the game.
When Bautista’s shot dropped, 1.7 seconds remained on the clock. Had the freeze not occurred, he might have been forced to shoot earlier—or possibly not have gotten a decent look at all. While it’s impossible to say definitively how the possession would have played out, the added time favored FEU.
Despite the controversy, Ateneo managed to regroup in overtime. Down by six points, the Blue Eagles leaned on clutch plays from Jared Bahay and Kymani Ladi to pull off a comeback win and open their season with a victory.
According to a league source familiar with the matter, the clock issues were the result of an electronics problem at the venue. The problem was not due to human error, and no personnel were disciplined. The issue reportedly surfaced multiple times throughout Saturday’s games but was resolved by the following day. By Sunday’s matches, the game clock was functioning properly and is not expected to cause further disruptions.
While Ateneo came away with the win, the clock malfunction on opening day raised early concerns about venue readiness and game integrity in critical moments. The league will need to ensure that technical reliability matches the level of competition moving forward and plans to do so.
