football scores today

Watching Game 3 of the San Miguel series really got me thinking about how much illegal use of hands violations can change the momentum of a basketball game. I've been playing and coaching for over fifteen years, and I can't tell you how many times I've seen players—even professionals—struggle with maintaining clean defensive positioning. During that particular game, I noticed Cjay Perez accumulating three personal fouls directly related to illegal hand contact by the third quarter alone. That's nearly half of the allowed personal foul limit in FIBA rules, which is five fouls per player. When you're dealing with high-stakes games like this, those early fouls can completely alter a coach's rotation strategy and force key players to the bench during crucial moments.

What many casual viewers don't realize is that illegal use of hands isn't just about slapping arms during shot attempts. The rule encompasses any form of illegal contact where a defender uses their hands to impede an opponent's movement. This includes grabbing, holding, pushing, or even just placing hands on an opponent in a way that restricts their freedom. I remember coaching a youth tournament where we lost the championship because our point guard reached in during a crossover dribble with just 2.3 seconds remaining. That single hand-check violation resulted in two free throws that cost us the game. The frustration from that moment still lingers with me today, especially when I see professional players making similar mistakes.

Looking specifically at Don Trollano's performance in Game 3, I counted at least two clear instances where he extended his arm unnecessarily while defending drives to the basket. The second one was particularly costly because it came during a fast break situation where San Miguel had numbers. Instead of using proper footwork to cut off the driving lane, he reached with his hands and made contact with the ball handler's hip area. The whistle blew immediately, and that was his fourth foul with still eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. From my perspective, that's just poor defensive discipline from an otherwise solid perimeter defender.

The consequences extend beyond just personal foul trouble. When players accumulate these illegal hand violations, it affects team foul counts and eventually leads to bonus free throw situations. In the PBA, teams enter the penalty situation after committing five team fouls in a quarter. During Game 3, San Miguel reached this threshold with still four minutes left in the second period, largely due to unnecessary hand contact violations. That means every subsequent defensive foul—regardless of whether it involved illegal hands or not—resulted in free throws. I've always believed that giving away free points through bonus situations is one of the most preventable ways to lose basketball games.

Marcio Lassiter's case was particularly interesting to analyze. As a veteran player, you'd expect better discipline, but he committed two illegal use of hands fouls within a 90-second span during the fourth quarter. The second violation occurred while fighting through an off-ball screen, where he clearly pushed the screener with his forearm. That's exactly the type of mental lapse that coaches hate because it shows a lack of situational awareness. With San Miguel protecting a narrow lead at that point, those fouls gave the opposition easy scoring opportunities and stopped the game clock, allowing them to set up their defense.

From my coaching experience, I've found that players often resort to illegal hand techniques when they're fatigued or out of position. It becomes a compensation mechanism for poor footwork or late reactions. During timeouts, I constantly remind my players that proper defensive stance and active feet eliminate about 80% of the temptation to use hands illegally. The other 20% comes down to discipline and understanding what officials are likely to call in different game situations. What surprised me about San Miguel's performance was how experienced players kept making these fundamental errors despite having championship experience.

The statistical impact is undeniable. In that single game, San Miguel committed 12 fouls directly related to illegal use of hands violations. That translates to approximately 18 potential free throw attempts if all fouls had been shooting fouls, though in reality about six of them actually resulted in free throws. When you're playing against elite competition, you simply can't afford to give away that many easy scoring opportunities. I'd estimate that improper hand use costs teams an average of 8-12 points per game at the professional level, though I don't have the exact tracking data to confirm this across multiple seasons.

What fascinates me about basketball's rules regarding hand use is how they've evolved over time. When I first started playing in the early 2000s, defenders could get away with much more contact. Today's game emphasizes freedom of movement, and officials are quicker to whistle any hand checking or grabbing. Players like Perez and Trollano need to adapt their defensive techniques to this reality. I've noticed that defenders who keep their hands visible and make their movements obvious to officials tend to get the benefit of doubt on 50-50 calls.

Reflecting on my own playing days, I remember how difficult it was to break the habit of reaching instead of moving my feet. My college coach used to make us practice defensive slides with tennis balls in our hands to prevent us from instinctively reaching for the ball. That single drill probably reduced our team's foul rate by about 15% over the course of a season. I wish more coaches would implement similar techniques, especially at the professional level where the margins between winning and losing are so thin.

Ultimately, understanding the rules and consequences of illegal use of hands in basketball comes down to recognizing that it's not just about avoiding fouls—it's about playing smarter defense. The best defenders I've ever coached or played against used their hands strategically rather than recklessly. They knew when to show their hands to officials, when to use quick swipes without making contact, and when to keep their hands completely out of the action. Watching Game 3 reinforced my belief that even at the highest level, there's always room for improvement in this fundamental aspect of defensive basketball. San Miguel may have secured the victory, but their persistent issues with illegal hand use could become a significant liability as the series progresses, especially against opponents who excel at drawing contact and getting to the free throw line.