PORTLAOISE PANTHERS have refused to play the final milliseconds of their Division 1 quarter-final with Limerick Sport Eagles.
The side have accepted elimination after it was bizarrely ruled by Basketball Ireland that the two sides had to replay the final 0.3 seconds of the clash.
Portlaoise were beaten 80-78 by their Limerick counterparts in St Mary’s Hall on March 23.
But there was controversy after free-throws were converted by Jason Killeen.
The Panthers argued that the foul that led to the free-throws shouldn’t have stood as they claimed the final buzzer had sounded before the infringement.
However, The Eagles’ were informed that their semi-final had been cancelled in light of National Appeals Committee’s decision to replay the game in its entirety.
While the free throws were correctly awarded, the NAC ruled that the referees and match commissioner erred in not placing a fraction of a second back on the clock and allowing a restart of the game.
But that was not the end of the matter as the National League Committee (NLC) overruled the decision to replay the game in its entirety.
The body went on to rule that the clock would only have 0.3 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter.
The remaining time was expected to be completed at some point this week, until the Panthers simply called it quits.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the club said: “We think the ordering of 0.3 seconds to be replayed of our quarter-final is completely against the spirit of basketball and was never the basis for appeal.
“We would never ask nor expect Limerick Sport Eagles, a club whom we hold in the highest regard, to travel to Portlaoise to play the remaining 0.3 seconds.
“It would be in nobody’s interest and would not be adherent to the values of basketball.
“To be clear if we are instructed to take to the court for 0.3 seconds we will refuse to do so.”
The Panthers also added: “Our appeal was never based on the grounds that there should have been 0.3 seconds played. Our appeal was solely based on, and supported by video evidence, that the final foul call was 1.6 seconds after the buzzer sounded.
“Initially the NAC found against this appeal but awarded a replay on the basis that there should have been 0.3 seconds left. This was not what we appealed.”