University of Santo Tomas star Kent Pastrana in UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — University of Santo Tomas star Kent Pastrana was among those who cried foul over the reported gap between the pay of basketball officials in the men’s and women’s divisions in the UAAP.
READ: Guided by lessons from Gilas stints, women’s basketball stars take center stage in Season 88
“Dapat fair lang siguro,” the Growling Tigresses star told a few reporters on Saturday. “Hindi lang sa intensity yan eh. The way na maglaro yung men’s and women's, ‘di nagkakalayo.”
According to reports, referees who are officiating games in the women's division are being paid less compared to those who work in the men's game, due to apparent differences in game speed and difficulty, among others.
“Sabihin nating mas talented yung men’s, pero marami na rin nagsu-support sa women’s. So dapat fair lang din yung treatment sa women's,” added Pastrana.
The base pay for referees officiating in the women’s side is reportedly at Php 2000, while those who officiate in the men’s receive Php 3000. In the previous year, the pay was at Php 2000 regardless of division.
But for Pastrana, if the reasoning for the difference in pay is due to how the men’s division is seen as more strenuous, the action should not result in decreasing the payment of the referees in the women's division.
“Sabihin natin na gusto nila na i-increase yung sa men’s, ‘wag nila bawasan sa women’s,” she said. “Pinaghihirapan din naman sa women’s yung fair calls fair officiating. Kung gusto nila na mas mataas sa men’s, wag nilang bawasan yung sa women’s.”
The Gilas Pilipinas standout also said that the pay gap may also reflect on how women’s basketball is seen in the country as inferior to the men’s side.
“Para sa amin, nakaka-offend kasi ang tingin nila sa women's basketball is mababa,” she emphasized. “So sana ngayon, i-treat na nila yung women's basketball na parehas sa men’s din kasi yung women's basketball pinaglalaban din namin.”
“Hindi siya madalim na ipaglaban yung team namin, at ipaglaban yung sports namin,” Pastrana added.
The UAAP earlier released a statement noting that "officials’ fees in the collegiate men’s, collegiate women’s, and junior high school boys’ divisions are determined by division and not by gender," though it did not address the criticisms stemming from the recent reports.
UAAP basketball commissioner Jai Reyes was mum when asked fore more clarity regarding the said pay gap.