CESAFI suspends UC

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc., through one of its three commissioners Danny Duran, yesterday announced the league has slapped one-game suspension each on the entire University of San Carlos and University of Cebu collegiate basketball teams for figuring in a disgraceful melee last Sunday at the USC gym. Duran further divulged the CESAFI has also declared the UC Webmasters as the official winner of the fight-marred encounter. UC was leading by six, 89-83, when the commotion broke out that eventually resulted into the stoppage of the game at the final 1:38 mark.

Duran said they already sent a letter to coaches Roel Gomez of UC and Mike Reyes of USC informing them of their decision. The other two signatories were commissioners Robert Callelero and Lito Singson.

Duran said after their lengthy deliberation on the controversy, which lasted for several hours the other day, they came up with some recommendations that were approved by CESAFI president Jose "Dodong" R. Gullas of the University of the Visayas.

One of the recommendations was to suspend for one game the teams involved in the fracas.

Thus, UC automatically lost by forfeiture against the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars supposedly last night at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex.

In the same way, USC will also lose its game against the Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats on Thursday in Compostela.

Duran explained in the CESAFI rules, a player who will be thrown out of the game for having involved in a fighting incident will be meted with an automatic one-game suspension or more depending on the nature of his offense.

In the case of the UC-USC game last Sunday where both benches were emptied, all players were good as thrown out. This implies that there's no need to continue the game behind "closed door" as earlier agreed upon by the concerned parties.

Duran said he expects Reyes to protest their decision, but added they can't do nothing about it because they're just doing their job.

"It's hard to please everybody. We just followed what are stated in the rules," said Duran.

Duran, on the other hand, bared they will summon UC's Allain Abellanosa and USC's Ahman James Tagalog, who were tagged as the main culprits of last Sunday's free-for-all.

"We will summon the two players anytime this week. We will investigate the incident thoroughly to find out who really started it and impose appropriate sanctions on erring parties," said Duran.

Meanwhile, Duran announced the CESAFI Commissioner's Office has also decided to ban UV Baby Lancers coach Delfin Pepito Jr. for the rest of the season for attempting to hit referee Jimmy Ybañez during their 56-62 loss to the USC Baby Warriors in Minglanilla last September 8.

After the game, Pepito offered a handshake with Ybañez, but he tried to hit the latter's nape and was parried.

Few minutes after that, Pepito again confronted Ybañez and a near-fight between the two ensued.

Duran said they will write a letter to Pepito to inform him of their decision.

Abel Bungcaras is expected to assume the post of Pepito.