Eagles clipped minus Alvarez; Maroons win

The much-awaited showdown between archrivals Ateneo and La Salle may have lost some of the thrill and high drama that normally accompany this storied matchup with Blue Eagle stalwart Richie Alvarez suspended for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The UAAP board yesterday announced that Alvarez will be suspended for a game following an unsponstmanlike act in a game against Adamson, forcing last year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) to sit out tomorrow’s contest versus the Archers at the Araneta Coliseum.

National University’s Sonny Paguia, this season’s UAAP president, made the announcement after hours of deliberation with the technical committee and commissioner Joe Lipa before yesterday’s UP-NU game at the Makati Coliseum.

The UP Maroons downed the NU Bulldogs, 80-72, for their third win in six outings. The Bulldogs suffered their sixth straight loss.

Alvarez was reportedly caught on video throwing a punch at Adamson’s Jojo Hate with over six minutes remaining in the third quarter of the Ateneo-Adamson game last Aug. 4.

A source told The Star that the board used as precedent the incident involving Ateneo’s Enrico Villanueva and La Salle’s Carlo Sharma last year in handing out the penalty on Alvarez. Villanueva was caught on a video punching Adamson’s Steve Rolan while Sharma was also seen on a video punching Villanueva in Game One of the Ateneo-La Salle title playoff.

The penalty automatically disqualified the Ateneo ace forward from the MVP race.

"The committee met as requested by commissioner Joe Lipa. And after thorough discussions and reviews, the UAAP basketball committee is recommending a one-game suspension on Richie Alvarez for his unsportsmanlike foul on Adamson’s Jojo Hate in their game last Aug. 4," said Paguia.

Paguia said the official announcement of Alvarez’ suspension will be made today.

As this developed, Lipa called up a coaches’ meeting on Tuesday, asking all parties concerned to substantiate their complaints on officiating, if there’s any.

This was a result of a tirade launched by La Salle coach Franz Pumaren

Thus, the Eagles are practically setting out tomorrow with a clipped wing minus Alvarez who should have a job cut out for him against the Archers who are deep in all positions.

Sans the 6-foot-4 forward, Ateneo is left with only Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales and sparingly used players Hernando Elmido and Sonny Tadeo to man the frontcourt against La Salle’s grizzled warriors Carlo Sharma, Adonis Sta. Maria, Mika Gavino and Manny Ramos.

"There’s nothing we can do about it if that’s the way they (the officials) saw it. They could have based it in different camera angles. But based from the camera angle they used, I still think it’s not a closed fist. All players run with their fists closed. I don’t think it’s beyond reasonable doubt," said Ateneo coach Joel Banal.