UST star, solon slam UAAP referee pay gap

University of Santo Tomas (UST) star Eunique Pastrana has spoken out against the reported pay gap for referees in the UAAP women's basketball games.

Gabriela representative and House Assistant Minority Leader Sarah Elago also condemned the reported pay gap, stating that paying women's games less reinforces the message that women's sports are worth less.

Reports indicate that UAAP referees now earn Php 3,000 in the men's division, Php 2,500 in the juniors division, and Php 2,000 for the women's division, a departure from previous years when all divisions were paid an equal Php 2,500 per game.

The UAAP explained that these rates are based on 'tiers' that reflect the faster pace of men's matches compared to the juniors' and women's games.

Pastrana and Cayabyab find the development offensive and a slight against women's basketball, while UST head coach Haydee Ong also slammed the league's explanation.

Pastrana had previously stated that the intensity and level of play in women's basketball are comparable to the men's division, refuting claims that differences in game speed and difficulty justify lower pay for women's referees.

She emphasized that the growing support for women's basketball warrants fair treatment and compensation for its referees.