Rebo offers to meet Ayo

MANILA, Philippines - Reacting to a letter of apology sent by La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, UAAP basketball commissioner Rene (Rebo) Saguisag, Jr. said yesterday he appreciated the “constructive fraternal spirit” of the expression of remorse and offered to sit down with the Green Archers mentor as “there’s no reason why two basketball ‘junkies’ can’t agree.”

The other day, Ayo apologized to Saguisag in a letter that was sent with an appeal signed by La Salle representative to the UAAP Board of Trustees Edwin Reyes to lift the one-game suspension on the coach for a flagrant unsportsmanlike disqualifying foul during the Archers game against UE last Wednesday. The foul was called when Ayo charged into the court with a pair of assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen’s eyeglasses to confront referee Eric Viray who had missed calling a foul on UE’s Wilson Bartolome piggybacking La Salle guard Thomas Torres in front of the Archers bench, causing a turnover.

Under the UAAP rules, a flagrant unsportsmanlike disqualifying foul carries an automatic one-game suspension. Ayo will serve the suspension in La Salle’s game against Ateneo at the MOA Arena today. The Archers, the league’s last unbeaten team with a 6-0 record, won’t only be handicapped by Ayo’s absence but captain Jeron Teng will also miss the action. Last Friday, Teng underwent a procedure to scrape a bone spur in his left ankle and had PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatment to hasten the healing process. Dr. Isagani Leal performed both procedures. Teng will be out for at least two weeks and could miss as many as three games.

Teng isn’t the only Archer hurting. Rookie center Justin Baltazar complained of dizziness and a severe neck ache from a headlock clamped by UE’s Bonbon Batiller during the same game where Ayo was ejected. The headlock merited a regular foul. Guard Julian Sargent sat out the UE contest with a groin strain and is a game-time decision against the Blue Eagles.

“I realize my confronting the referee was uncalled for,” said Ayo in his letter to Saguisag. “I also realize that as coach of our university team, I have an obligation to set an example to the Lasallian community. It is for this reason that I apologize to you, the referee and the UAAP community. Rest assured that in the coming games, I will be more careful and sensitive on how I conduct myself. I wish to reiterate my utmost respect to you as Commissioner and the UAAP Board. I stand together with you in upholding the principles of sportsmanship, fair play, camaraderie and fierce but honest competition in our league.”

In his appeal, Reyes pointed out that this was Ayo’s first infraction which was triggered by his exasperation on the conduct of the La Salle-UE game. “The coach meant to call attention to the excessive physical contact that appeared to be condoned,” said Reyes.

While not trying to justify his action, Ayo explained that he had repeatedly asked the referees to call fouls on players initiating excessive physical contact but was ignored. “I’m extremely protective of my players,” he said. “I’ve always felt that in a pressure situation, they must be reassured of my support. I only wanted to deliver a statement in support of my players, to make the referees aware of our situation. My action was not to grandstand or incite. It was meant to protect our players and to call attention to my appeals.”

Saguisag said as a former coach himself, he understands the strong will to win. “It is never personal,” he said. “We just all want to win and sometimes, we perceive that some things get in the way, particularly officiating. I recall having been in this vortex of intensity, competitive fire and human error quite a number of times.” The two-time UAAP commissioner told Ayo “let’s work together in having better games, moving forward.”

In denying La Salle’s appeal, Saguisag affirmed the suspension “for the sake of keeping the integrity of the institution and the respect of the public ... the moral high ground is where the UAAP stands on ... we have to stay there and keep going, to greater heights and glory.” He said the exercise of his discretion to downgrade a suspension must be based on technical grounds to protect the spirit of the rule.

Saguisag said a UE player was recently charged a disqualifying foul but was absolved from serving a one-game suspension because of a technical finding. He said the referee made an incorrect call that led to the ejection. “The official has not been given an assignment since,” he pointed out. “In Ayo’s case, there was no error in the disqualifying call. To lift the suspension solely on clemency with remorse and/or prior clean record as grounds will set a dangerous precedent.”