Some followers of the league believe it’s up to the referees’ discretion which fouls to classify as flagrant foul 1 or flagrant foul 2. While it may, to some extent, still be up to the referees’ discretion, they are bound by guidelines on this rather sensitive matter.

In the past, there were a lot of gray areas when it came to flagrant fouls, but in 2008, the PBA decided to specify and classify which infractions should fall under flagrant foul penalty 1 and 2.

This week, we start with those classified as flagrant foul penalty 2.

1. Physically contacting an official.

2. Throwing the ball or an object and hitting an official, player or coach.
• If ball or object does NOT hit the official, player or coach, a Technical Foul will be called instead and a free throw will be awarded to the opposing team of the guilty player.

3. Elbow foul which makes contact above the shoulder level.

4. Punching foul (closed fist).

5. Punch that does not result on contact.

6. Any violent, savage or injurious blow (not necessarily a punch) above the shoulder level.

7. Players who rush into the court during a fight and involve themselves in the fight, whether or not they are the instigators and even if they only retaliate to an instigator. (NOTE: a fight may not necessarily involve PUNCHING.)

8. Any fighting contact, not necessarily a punch. It can be head butt, a kick, a body tackle or hitting with an object (e.g. chair/stick, etc.)

9. Deliberate foul – offender’s action manifests that he is playing the man, not the ball (or even if he is going for the ball), with the contact of such excessive nature resulting in dire consequence.

10. Undercutting an opponent.

11. Fouls not considered deliberate but resulting in dire consequence.

12. Kicking, the act of which cannot be classified as a normal basketball motion.
• Does not refer to the “kicking” motion of a shooter in “flicking” his foot/leg towards a defender – the subject of an offensive foul (only).

13. Kneeing or extending a leg or foot on an airborne opponent causing a hard fall resulting in dire consequences.

14. Leaving a foot on the landing spot of a shooter – WITH CONTACT.

• IN THE GAME: FFP2 is called; two (2) Free Throws are awarded; ball possession is retained by team of offended player; and guilty player is ejected from the game.

• IN THE OFFICE: A FINE of at least Php 10,000.00 is assessed, whatever is the consequence of the contact and an AUTOMATIC, MINIMUM ONE (1) GAME SUSPENSION is imposed ONLY if the contact results in a dire consequence.

- “DIRE CONSEQUENCE” defined as the offended player suffers an injury that forces him to leave the playing court to get medical attention and is unable to return even to the bench and resume playing for the remainder of the game.

15. Second (2nd) Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 on the same game but for a separate incident from the first (1st) Flagrant Foul Penalty 1.

Sanctions for FFP2: Minimum of one (1) game suspension plus P20,000.00 fine.

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