2025-11-16 09:00
Watching Game 3 of the San Miguel series really got me thinking about how much the illegal use of hands rule affects the flow and outcome of basketball games. I’ve been playing and watching basketball for over a decade, and I still find myself wincing when a player makes an unnecessary reach-in or swipes at the ball carelessly. In that game, even though San Miguel pulled off the win, I couldn’t help but notice Cjay Perez and Don Trollano getting caught with their hands where they shouldn’t be—more than once. Those fouls didn’t just give the other team free throws; they disrupted San Miguel’s defensive rhythm at critical moments. Honestly, I’ve always believed that clean, disciplined defense wins more games than aggressive but sloppy hand-checking, and this game kind of proved my point.
Let’s break down what the illegal use of hands rule actually means. In simple terms, it’s when a defender uses their hands to impede an opponent’s movement or gain an unfair advantage—think grabbing, pushing, or slapping instead of moving their feet. The NBA and FIBA rules are pretty strict about this, and for good reason: it’s a safety issue as much as a fairness one. I remember in one amateur league game I played back in 2018, our point guard got a technical because he kept putting his hands on the ball handler’s hip, and the ref had warned him twice already. That cost us two points and, honestly, a bit of morale. In the San Miguel game, Marcio Lassiter—usually so composed—committed a hand-related foul in the third quarter that led to an and-one opportunity. Those little mistakes add up; over the course of a game, they can swing the score by 10-15 points if you’re not careful.
The consequences aren’t just immediate, either. Each illegal use of hands violation results in personal fouls, and we all know what happens when those pile up. Players foul out, teams enter the bonus early, and suddenly you’re handing the opponent easy points from the free-throw line. Statistics from the 2022-2023 basketball season show that teams averaging 18+ personal fouls per game had a 40% lower win rate in close matches. I’m not saying that’s the sole reason San Miguel struggled in certain stretches, but when Perez picked up his fourth foul with 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter, I knew they’d have to bench him—and his offense was sorely missed. From my perspective, coaches need to drill this into players during practice: use your feet, not your hands. It’s a habit that separates good defenders from great ones.
Another thing I’ve noticed over the years is how inconsistent refereeing can make this rule tricky to navigate. What one ref calls a foul, another might let slide, and that unpredictability can frustrate players. In Game 3, Trollano’s third foul was a borderline call—was it a clean strip or did his fingers graze the shooter’s wrist? The replay was inconclusive, but the whistle blew, and San Miguel had to adjust their lineup. I’ve been in similar situations myself; it’s tempting to argue, but the best players learn to adapt quickly. Still, I wish leagues would implement more training for officials on hand-check violations specifically. It might reduce the number of controversial calls that change game outcomes.
Beyond the tactical side, there’s a psychological impact. When players like Lassiter or Perez keep fouling, it affects their confidence. They become hesitant on defense, which opens up driving lanes for opponents. I saw that happen in the second half of Game 3—San Miguel’s defense softened, and the opposition scored 12 points in the paint in just 5 minutes. That’s not a coincidence. Personally, I think teams should use video analysis more intensively to highlight these moments. For example, reviewing footage of Perez’s two hand fouls could help him understand exactly where he went wrong—was he off-balance? Did he misjudge the ball handler’s speed? Small adjustments like that can make a huge difference over a season.
Looking at the bigger picture, the illegal use of hands rule isn’t just about punishment; it’s about promoting skillful, exciting basketball. I love watching defenders who use positioning and anticipation instead of brute force. It’s why I’ve always admired players like Kawhi Leonard—his "hands-up" defense is effective without being reckless. San Miguel has the talent to emulate that, but it requires discipline. In Game 3, they ended up with 22 team fouls, and at least 6 of those were directly related to illegal hand use. If they can cut that down to 2 or 3 in the next game, I’m confident they’ll see better results.
At the end of the day, understanding the rules and consequences of illegal use of hands in basketball isn’t just for rookies—it’s for veterans too. As someone who’s both played and coached, I’ve seen how a single careless swipe can turn a potential steal into a foul shot nightmare. San Miguel’s win in Game 3 was impressive, but if they want to dominate the series, players like Perez, Trollano, and Lassiter need to clean up their act. Focus on footwork, keep hands active but legal, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll avoid those costly calls that keep fans like me on the edge of our seats.
