Filipinos love basketball; makeshift courts can be found in most neighborhoods around the Philippines quite easily. And in the country, the game can get intense, even when it’s meant to be a friendly one among neighbors.
Luckily this basketball referee knows how to lighten up the mood. Facebook user Sheryl Cruz Vergara shared a now-viral video last week of a basketball referee she identified as Antonio Dalimpapas who was officiating a neighborhood game in the village of Gatbuca, in Bulacan province.
In the video, Dalimpapas can be seen blowing his whistle to call a traveling violation on the red team. Before anyone on either team could react, he follows this up with a cartwheel and a split.
The crowd goes wild, not for the players, but for the referee.
Vergara told Coconuts Manila that she took the video last Sunday (Dec. 2). It was her first time to watch her cousin play basketball but it was referee Dalimpapas that caught her attention.
When asked about how she felt about her video going viral, she said in Filipino: “I’m happy, especially for the referee because I read a lot of good comments about him.”
The video had over 822,000 views, 5,300 likes, and 11,500 shares as of this article’s posting. Netizens shared their thoughts about the video.
Elvira Canlas Domingo said in Filipino: “Wow, he’s amazing.”
“He’s good. He’s even more famous than a [professional] player,” Benito Vergara wrote in Filipino.
Nathan Nofuente said: “This is passion.”
JC BOy Bahade wrote: “Nice call ref.”
JR Sison said in Filipino: “I hope all [referees] are like this.”
Aries Marcelo wants all referees to do this, even the ones in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Jowell Chua said the referee’s talent fee should increase.
How extra was this referee? Leave a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
Reader Interactions