Inaprubahan ni Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Chito Narvasa ang pagpasok ng dalawang babaeng referees sa hanay ng mga game official para sa pagbubukas ng season ending PBA Governors Cup.

Ang dalawang babaeng referee na inaprubahan ni Narvasa ay sina Edith Boticario at Janine Nicandro.

“We believe in the ability of women and we want them to play a more active role in the league. I think having women referees in our games will be good for the league long term. Gone are the days when the game of basketball was confined to just the men,” pahayag ni Narvasa.

“The role of women in society transcends beyond the confines of home and office. Women of this generation are actively involved in just about anything and everything and their presence and achievements have been acknowledged the world over. In the field of sports, women are just as successful as the men. Their impact in the global market is simply awesome. So I think tapping women referees will be good for the PBA,” aniya.

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Ang 29- anyos na si Boticario, 29, at ang 23- anyos na si Nicandro ay napili mula sa 15 trainee ng PBA referees academy na mayroong limang babaeng kalahok.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon sa 41 taong kasaysayan ng liga na may babaeng referee na patatakbuhin sa PBA games.

Maging si PBA chairman Robert Non, ayon kay Narvasa ay sumusuporta sa naturang desisyon.

Sumailalim sina Boticario at Nicandro sa matinding training sa PBA D-League, women 3x3 tournament, at sa PBA Campus Tour. (Marivic Awitan)