Watching San Miguel’s Game 3 victory, I couldn’t help but notice how certain players—Cjay Perez, Don Trollano, and Marcio Lassiter—kept getting tangled up in situations where their hands just seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s one of those subtle but crucial aspects of the game: what constitutes illegal use of hands in basketball and how to avoid penalties. As someone who’s played and coached at amateur levels, I’ve seen firsthand how a split-second lapse in hand discipline can shift momentum, or worse, cost your team a critical possession. In this game, even though San Miguel pulled off the win, there were moments where unnecessary fouls disrupted their flow and gave their opponents easy opportunities. Let’s dive into what happened, why it matters, and how players at any level can tighten up their technique.
Take Perez, for instance. Late in the third quarter, he was defending on the perimeter and reached in to poke the ball away, but instead, he made clear contact with the ball handler’s forearm. The whistle blew immediately—illegal use of hands, no question. That’s a classic case of over-aggression; referees are trained to spot any hand check or swipe that impedes a player’s movement, and Perez’s move was just too obvious. Trollano had a similar issue when he tried to fight through a screen and ended up grabbing the screener’s jersey. It wasn’t malicious, but it was careless, and it led to his third personal foul. Lassiter, usually so disciplined, got caught once or twice with his hands too high on close-outs, risking fouls on jump shooters. These might seem like small mistakes, but in a playoff atmosphere, they add up. I remember in my own playing days, I once racked up three fouls in the first half just from reaching—it’s frustrating because you know better, but in the heat of the moment, fundamentals can slip.
So, what exactly is illegal use of hands, and why do refs call it so strictly? Basically, it’s any use of the hands or arms to gain an unfair advantage, like holding, pushing, or slapping an opponent. The rules are clear: you can’t use your hands to control another player’s movement or disrupt their rhythm. In the NBA and FIBA, which the PBA follows, this falls under personal fouls, and repeated violations can lead to players fouling out or teams entering the penalty early. In Game 3, San Miguel’s players collectively had around 12 fouls related to hand violations—I’d estimate at least 4-5 of those were purely from illegal hand use. That’s not just bad luck; it’s a technique issue. For example, when Perez reached in, he wasn’t just risking a foul—he was also out of position defensively, which allowed his man to drive past him easily. It’s a domino effect: one small hand foul can break down your entire defensive set.
Now, how do you fix this? From my experience, it starts with footwork and anticipation. Instead of reaching with your hands, focus on moving your feet to stay in front of your opponent. Coaches often drill this in practice—I used to hate those defensive slide exercises, but they work. For Perez and Trollano, incorporating more shadow defense drills without using hands could help build better habits. Also, watching film is key; if they review their fouls from Game 3, they’ll see exactly where their hands went wrong. Another tip: keep your hands active but controlled, like in a “defensive stance” where your palms are up and ready to deflect passes without making contact. I’ve found that visualizing “no-reach” scenarios before games helps me stay disciplined. And for veterans like Lassiter, it might be about conserving energy—sometimes fatigue leads to lazy hands, so conditioning plays a role too.
Looking at the bigger picture, San Miguel’s win in Game 3 shows they have the talent to overcome these mistakes, but against tougher opponents, those hand fouls could be costly. In the playoffs, every possession counts, and giving up free throws or bonus situations can swing a series. Personally, I think the team should prioritize foul discipline in their training sessions ahead of the next game; maybe even bring in a ref to simulate game calls. It’s not just about avoiding penalties—it’s about playing smarter basketball. As a fan, I love seeing aggressive defense, but it has to be within the rules. If Perez, Trollano, and Lassiter can clean up their hand usage, they’ll not only reduce fouls but also become more effective defenders. After all, the best defenders I’ve seen aren’t the ones who gamble with their hands; they’re the ones who use their bodies and minds to shut down opponents. Here’s hoping San Miguel takes this to heart and comes out even stronger in the next matchup.
