UAAP, NCAA sanction erring cagers

Strong warning signals were sent out yesterday against erring players in both the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

The NCAA slapped a one-game suspension on a pair of cagers who almost came to blows in last Friday’s game between San Beda and Mapua while the UAAP placed six players from three different teams under fire for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Frank Gusi of host San Sebastian, who is also the NCAA management committee chairman, told The STAR that San Beda’s Michael Casino and Mapua’s Nat Cruz were suspended one game each for trading elbows while jockeying for position inside the paint. They were both thrown out of the game.

Gusi also warned the players that a repeat infraction would lead to a more severe punishment, including possible banishment from the league.

"As we promised before the season started, any misbehavior and unsportsmanlike conduct will be dealt with accordingly," Gusi said.

This is the second time this season that the NCAA has cracked the whip on erring players, the first offender being St. Benilde’s Al Magpayo.

UAAP commissioner Joe Lipa did not name the six players although this could include James Yap and Paul Artadi of UE and Carlos Sharma of La Salle and an Adamson player.

Yap was warned by the referee for slamming the ball on the head of La Salle rookie Joseph Casio while Artadi was slapped a technical for apparently throwing a punch at Casio’s teammate, Ty Tang. Sharma, for his part, also drew a technical for elbowing UE’s Philip Butel as they prepared to rebound.