Basket-brawl big blow to Dolphins’ bid

Philippine Christian University’s bid for a first-ever crown in the National Collegiate Athletic Association suffered a crucial blow yesterday when five Dolphins were meted suspension in the aftermath of the tumultuous PCU-San Beda match Wednesday at the Makati Coliseum.

The NCAA management committee, after a long deliberation that lasted over four hours in PCU, decided to crack the whip on PCU’s Robert Sanz, Alwin Ilagan, Nelson Gatdula, Leo Gaspi, Al Dais and San Beda’s Erl Merelos.

Sanz, Ilagan, Gatdula and Merelos were meted a heavy three-game suspension with the four being the main protagonists in the fracas. Gaspi and Dais, who were seen in the videotape posing a fighting stance with clear intention to hurt, were suspended for a game each.

The other players thrown out of the game after leaving their respective benches during the commotion were reprimanded.

On top of the suspension, the six players were given a stern warning that a repetition of the same offense will lead to their banishment from the league, according to NCAA management committee vice chairman Frank Guci. – Joey Villar