Julio Anaya
_(cropped).jpg) Anaya in 2025 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 November 1991 |
Julio César Anaya Freile (born 5 November 1991)[1] is a Panamanian basketball referee licensed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). He officiated the men's gold medal game at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[2] He is the second Panamanian to referee a senior FIBA Basketball World Cup.[3]
Early life and career
[edit]As a child Anaya was interested in volleyball before switching to basketball.[1] He began officiating at age 11 as a table official in local games at the Parque Lefevre gym in Panama City[4] before transitioning to refereeing mini basketball.[3]
At 17 he obtained his national license.[4] At 19 he received his FIBA license in April 2011 at a certification clinic in the Cayman Islands,[5] making him one of the youngest FIBA-licensed referees in the world at the time.[6] Anaya studied maritime and port engineering at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, though he never practiced the profession.[7]
In 2013, Anaya's nomination to the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship was withdrawn after the Panamanian Basketball Federation (FEPABA) was suspended by FIBA over governance issues.[7]
International Career
[edit]Anaya has refereed multiple high-profile FIBA basketball tournaments and participated in the NBA Summer League in 2023.[8][9]
Among his most notable assignments are the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup,[10] the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and 2024 Summer Olympics. At the 2022 Women's World Cup, he was assigned to the final between the United States and China.[11] The following year, he officiated the third-place game at the men's World Cup.[12] At Paris 2024, Anaya refereed the men's gold medal game between the United States and France.[2]
Since September 2024, Anaya has officiated games in Portugal's Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol and contributed to referee training programs.[4]
Anaya has officiated at two Basketball Champions League (BCL) Final Fours, in 2025[13] and 2026,[14] refereeing the final both years.[15][16]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Olympedia – Julio Anaya". Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- 1 2 "France vs USA - Final - Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 | FIBA Basketball". 9 August 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- 1 2 Serrano, Nicolás. "Julio Anaya, el veterano árbitro de baloncesto de 31 años". www.laestrella.com.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Dos Jogos Olímpicos para a Liga Betclic: Julio Anaya". FPB (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ascienden a árbitro 'pana'". portal.diaadia.com.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Paz, Francisco (8 June 2018). "Joven apasionado por el arbitraje". Panamá América (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- 1 2 Perez, Edwin. "Panameño Julio Anaya, con 25 años, entre los mejores árbitros de Ámerica". www.metrolibre.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ "Referee Julio Anaya officiates on July 11, 2023 at the Thomas & Mack..." Getty Images. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Indiana Pacers vs Washington Wizards Jul 8, 2023 Game Summary". NBA.com. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "2019 FIBA World Cup Final Rounds Referees, Games". Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "China vs USA - Final - FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 | FIBA Basketball Events". 5 August 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "USA vs Canada - 3rd Place Game - FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 | FIBA Basketball Events". Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Julio Anaya na Final Four da Basketball Champions League". FPB (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Referees confirmed for the 2026 BCL Final Four in Badalona". 5 May 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Galatasaray vs Unicaja - Final - Basketball Champions League 2024-25 | FIBA Basketball Events". 11 May 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "AEK BC vs Rytas Vilnius - Final - Basketball Champions League Powered by Ameresco SUNEL | FIBA Basketball". Retrieved 6 July 2026.
External links
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