Olympics on horizon for ref
Abbotsford’s Tanner Cervo made his debut as a FIBA referee in Argentina in June.
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Updated: August 28, 2009 9:40 AM
In Canada, there are only 18 referees qualified to officiate basketball games on behalf of FIBA, the sport’s international governing body.
One of the freshest faces in that select group is Tanner Cervo. The 33-year-old Abbotsford native obtained his license with FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball) last year, and made his debut at the FIBA Americas U16 boys world championship qualifying tournament in Argentina this past June.
“It was pretty intense,” related Cervo, who worked five games, including the gold medal match between the United States and Argentina. “It was pretty much the highlight so far of my career.”
The FIBA U16 event is just the start for Cervo, who also works as a physical education teacher at Chief Dan George Middle School. The basketball tournament at the Summer Olympics is also a FIBA-sanctioned event, and earning that plumb assignment is his long-term goal.
“The next Olympics in London (2012) are a bit of a long shot, but 2016 is within reach,” Cervo said. “I’m definitely on that track.”
For Cervo, refereeing runs in the family. His father Jim, a veteran basketball official, is a familiar face on the local hoops scene. The younger Cervo got his start as a ref when he was in Grade 11, and he’s got 15 years of experience under his belt.
Matt FERGUSON
News Contributor
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