UP protest denied; 2 refs suspended

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato yesterday turned down the protest filed by University of the Philippines in its 59-61 loss to National University last Sunday but slapped suspensions on the two referees who worked the game.

At the same time, Badolato suspended UP veteran Alvin Padilla for one game for crossing the court and hurling invectives at game officials and warned Maroons coach Boyet Fernandez for similarly rushing onto the floor after the game.

“The commissioner’s office denied the protest on the grounds that UP’s contentions were based on judgment calls,” Badolato explained in a text message to The STAR.

But Badolato said the Maroons can appeal to the UAAP technical committee.

Sought for comment, Fernandez said he would first discuss the matter with UP administration before announcing their next plan of action.

The Maroons have protested a supposed non-call on what they felt was a goal-tending violation by NU’s Emmanuel Mbe on a three-point attempt by Padilla. The referees ruled it a clean block, though.

UP (0-10) also complained why referees let the Maroons’ lane violation go in the last 1.2 seconds. In the said play, NU’s Jewel Ponferrada missed his second foul throw as UP rebounders deliberately came inside trying to force a double lane violation and a subsequent jump ball.

However, the Bulldogs did not bite in the four times that the Maroons prematurely entered the lane and Ponferrada flubbed all substitute freethrows. Game officials did not call UP’s fifth lane violation and the clock expired.

Although he denied the protest, Badolato banned referees Glenn Cornelio and Ariel Bermeo for two playing days for what he described as “bad calls” during the UP-NU duel. This will be the second such sanction on Cornelio, who was previously sacked along with two others following a first round game between Adamson and Ateneo last July.

Padilla, who just rejoined the Maroons last Sunday after serving out his one-game suspension for incurring his second unsportsmanlike foul this season, will have to sit out UP’s next game anew (against Adamson on Thursday). This time, he had his post-game verbal assault on game officials to blame.

Olmin Leyba, Philippine Star