UV out of student caging

The University of the Visayas Lancers and Baby Lancers yesterday were pulled out of the National Students Championships by UV owner, Congressman Eduardo Gullas, who said he was misled into thinking the meet, organized by the group of Quintellano Literal, is organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Gullas made the announcement in the executive board meeting of the BAP group led by Freddie Jalasco at the Bramante Cafe. Also present in the meeting were Gregorio Narvasa II, Ricky Palou, Atty. Brigido Dulay, Chino Trinidad, Mauricio Martelino and Tito Tagle.

This developed even as the hearing on the application by Literal for a temporary restraining order to prevent Jalasco from running the affairs of the BAP is set this afternoon at the Parañaque Regional Trial Court.

Judge Amelita Tolentino will preside over the hearing starting at 1:30 p.m. at branch 274 of the National Capital Judicial Region in Parañaque where Literal is a resident.

Summoned to appear in the hearing were Jalasco, who was recently recognized by the POC as the duly elected BAP president, POC president Celso Dayrit and the members of the POC Arbitration Committee.

The arbitration committee which handed down its decision on the BAP leadership dispute last Friday is headed by Claudio Altura of sailing with Rene Adad of football and Benjie Ramos of rowing as members. Literal criticized Jalasco and the POC of "conspiracy" and filed a P5-million damage suit.

Gullas, at the same time, filed a resolution seeking the immediate dissemination of information to all presidents and athletic directors of schools sending teams to the San Pablo cagefest stating the true state of "this tournament that is bereft of BAP sanction."

With the POC recognizing Jalasco’s leadership, Gullas said it’s only fair to warn heads of schools taking part in the San Pablo tournament that nothing worthwhile is at stake in the event.

Literal, meanwhile, announced that they have invited Vice President Teofisto Guingona to grace the opening of the tournament Sunday at the National School of Arts & Trades’ Quirino Stadium.

He said St. Francis of Assisi, NCAA titlist St. Benilde, National University and Jose Rizal College, Ateneo de Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro College and Cebu Doctors College are the schools which have confirmed their participation in the tournament.

In filing the case versus Jalasco, Literal said: "We believe that there was an unholy alliance between Jalasco and Dayrit. We also believe that there was a conspiracy and travesty of justice (in the POC decision)."

The damage suit filed by Literal last Tuesday includes P3 million for moral damages, P1.5 million for exemplary damages, P.5 million for attorney’s fees and another P.1 million for the hearing cost. — With reports from Abac Cordero