MANILA, Philippines – Like most PBA players, Meralco veteran Jared Dillinger is enjoying the greater leeway given to them by game officials, even as he admits that he is still adjusting to how the whistles are now being blown.

Dillinger and the Bolts were routed by TNT KaTropa on Sunday, 99-81, which featured a combined 39 fouls and only 24 free throws.

"They're starting to get it done," Dillinger said after the game when asked of the increased physicality in the league. "Our commissioner, Boss Willie (Marcial), he wanted it to be more physical, and it's fun out there."

"I like it like this," he stressed. "It's fun. As long as we're not hurting each other, take out any career-ending injuries, nothing like that."

"It's fun hitting people. It's fun getting hit, going to the ground – all for the love of the game. It's fun," Dillinger added.

• READ: Dillinger says Bolts can't panic despite another round of All-Filipino struggles

Indeed, it's not just the players who have responded well to the officiating. Even coaches are appreciative of how players are given more freedom on the floor to express themselves, and fans have lauded the faster pace of the game now that referees have cut down on calling "touch" fouls.

However, Dillinger admits that he is still adjusting to the more lenient officiating – especially after getting used to the old style of the referees.

"Sometimes, you'll see a hard foul on the floor and everyone stops and like, are we playing? Is that a foul?" said Dillinger. "It takes a little time to adjust."

At the end of the day, Dillinger is just hopeful that the referees will be consistent in how they call the game.

"Sometimes, they let us hit each other, and sometimes, they call a little ticky-tack foul," he said. "So you can see tempers flare."

"(But) they're getting it done," he added. "It's fun to watch."

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.