Janine Nicandro, PBA’s First-Ever Female Referee Makes History

Meet Janine Nicandro, PBA’s First-Ever Female Referee

Janine Nicandro makes history in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) being the first-ever female referee in the history of the league.

Janine Nicandro

At the opening game of the PBA Governors Cup last Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, everyone was stunned as a lady enters in the black and white referee’s uniform.

During the match between the Meralco Bolts and the Phoenix Petroleum Masters, Nicandro let her presence be felt as she calls the first technical foul to Phoenix’s Mark Borboran after using profane language during the game.

In a report by Interaksyon, PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa stated that Nicandro just made a statement on what she has done during the said game.

“It goes to show that she knows what she’s doing,” Narvasa said. “It was a swift, no-hesitation decision on her part,” he added.

During her debut, Nicandro seems tensed and nervous but she remained her cool and calm. After the game, she received positive feedbacks from the public and of course, some bashing during the game from the players, team officials, and the fans.

According to an article by Spin, the lady referee said that she heard a few bashes but according to her, there are still more positive comments.

Janine Nicandro, 23, was born in Sta. Cruz, Laguna but has been raised in Pagsanjan. In an interview by Philstar, Nicandro admitted that her first love was volleyball and that she even played the sport during her elementary and high school years in Laguna. Then, during her college days, she even tried out for both volleyball and basketball and unexpectedly, she has been qualified to play in the women’s basketball team of the Laguna State Polytechnic University.

Then, during her college days, she even tried out for both volleyball and basketball and unexpectedly, she has been qualified to play in the women’s basketball team of the Laguna State Polytechnic University. She then became the center of for the championship team.

Janine Nicandro already officiated in the PBA D-League wherein she undergone intensive training and supervision. Nicandro was among the five women trainees at the PBA referees academy.

It is expected in the coming years that women can be seen officiating basketball games in the league as the PBA Commissioner agrees to it.

“We should empower women referees in the PBA,” PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa said.

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