SBP, UAAP talk women’s ref pay gap

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) says it has begun talks with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) over a reported “pay gap” for referees working men’s and women’s basketball games.

“In light of the recent issue regarding the pay gap for referees of men’s and women’s games, the SBP has already initiated a dialogue with the UAAP on how to improve the situation for all stakeholders,” the federation said Saturday.

“Both organizations remain committed to making the sport as inclusive as possible and to advancing women’s basketball in the Philippines,” it added.

A separate SBP note echoed the stance and said it “has already initiated dialogue with the UAAP on how to improve the situation for all stakeholders.”

“Both organizations stay committed to making the sport as inclusive as possible and advancing women’s basketball in the Philippines,” the SBP said.

The issue caught fire after reports that this season’s base fees were set at PHP 3,000 per game for men, PHP 2,000 for women, and PHP 2,500 for juniors, compared with last season’s flat PHP 2,500 across all divisions.

In an earlier message, the UAAP said it follows “tiers” that reflect the “faster pace” of men’s matches compared with the juniors’ and women’s games, and added that officials’ fees are “determined by division and not by gender.”

The league later clarified it uses a “tiered, merit-based structure” that lets officials—regardless of gender—earn their way into higher-stakes games.

“The system serves as an incentive for game officials to maintain high standards in officiating. The technical head made recommendations on the structure, which was adopted in consultation with the referees,” the UAAP explained.

“Moving forward, while we will still maintain a tiered system, we will ensure that there will be no diminution of fees across all divisions from previous seasons,” the league added.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and reaffirm our commitment to growing the sport and working with the community to empower student-athletes, coaches, and game officials—not only in basketball but across all sports under the UAAP,” the UAAP stated.

Women’s basketball voices including Gilas Pilipinas Women standouts Kent Pastrana and Tin Cayabyab, UST head coach Haydee Ong, and House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago criticized the current setup and called for fair pay.

Members of the women’s hoops community said the move signals that their side is seen as inferior, intensifying calls for transparent standards that don’t undercut women’s competitions.

The SBP closed its message by urging everyone to keep the bigger goal in mind and asked stakeholders to “remain united” on the issue.

“We can only elevate Philippine basketball to its highest levels if we grow it for everyone,” it said.

The UAAP is the country’s flagship collegiate league and the SBP is the national basketball federation, making their joint action pivotal for student-athletes, coaches, and game officials.