UAAP verdict on DLSU final

A member of the UAAP board said on the eve of the final deliberations on La Salle’s eligibility case that any decision the body would render would be final, dashing the Taft-based school’s hope of making an appeal if the league calls for its suspension for the coming UAAP season.

"Usually, when the board decides, its always final. That’s why all the members of the board are present and take part in the deliberations," said Ric Matibag, one of the 16 board members from Adamson who will deliberate on La Salle’s case.

The meeting is set at 10 a.m. at the Adamson campus.

The Adamson athletic director was reacting to the possibility that La Salle might appeal the case in the event the board decides to suspend the Taft-based school after it admitted to have fielded in ineligible players during the 2004-2005 seasons.

"We hope that it will be finished soon," said Bro. Bobby Casingal, La Salle’s Office of Sports Development head. "Once the UAAP makes its decision, only then will La Salle make its move."

Matibag, who is also a member of the five-man ad-hoc committee chaired by Fr. Ermito de Sagon, OP, of Santo Tomas that investigated the case, said they hope to finally put an end to the issue that has dragged on for seven months now.

"It will depend on the discussion, we’ll have to discuss the findings of the committee and hope to finish it tomorrow (today). But it’s up to the members of the board on what action shall be taken," he added.

Matibag, however, didn’t discount the possibility that the board might need two or three meetings before it could come up with a final verdict.

Sources said the board even reserved "future dates" next week in anticipation of a long-drawn-out deliberation.

"It depends if all the relevant issues are discussed and there is a consensus," said the league insider.

Fr. Max Rendon, CM, of Adamson will preside the meeting that will also be attended by La Salle representatives Danny Jose and Lito Tanjuatco.

Suspension in all events is the likely sanction to be meted out on La Salle, which admitted last year that it "unwittingly" used two players — Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian — with fake admission documents during the 2004-2005 seasons.

Adamson was also suspended in 1994 after it fielded Marlou Aquino despite academic deficiencies.