Letran won’t appeal suspension

This time, Letran won’t be making a big issue over Ronjay Enrile’s impending suspension.

This was the message of Fr. Edwin Lao, OP, rector of the Dominican-run school, to Letran coach Louie Alas a few days after commissioner Ricky Palou recommended to the NCAA Management Committee (Mancom) that the Letran ace guard be slapped a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Mancom, chaired by Mike del Mundo of host Perpetual Help, is expected to come up with a decision today although a board member, who requested anonymity, told The STAR that the committee had already issued a suspension order on Enrile.

"We don’t know yet if Ronjay is suspended. But if he is, Fr. Edwin Lao told me we will not make any appeal," said Alas, who was with the Knights in a team-building session yesterday in Unisan, Quezon.

Palou said the recommendation came after Enrile was caught on tape choking San Sebastian’s Leo Najorda in a game won by the Knights, 81-78, Friday. The two cagers were only slapped a double foul with Najorda, last year’s MVP, drawing a mere warning since he retaliated by pulling down Enrile’s shorts.

If Enrile is suspended, he will serve it out in a crucial Final Four game versus Philippine Christian U, which finished at No. 2 with a 10-4 (win-loss) slate ahead of No. 3 Letran (9-5). The Knights need two wins to get a chance of defending their title against the winners between elimination topnotcher Perpetual Help and the San Beda-Mapua duel for No. 4.

It was the second time that Enrile committed a misdeed. The first was when he spat at Perpetual Help’s Dom Javier a week earlier. Alas made an appeal but the decision stayed.

When Frederick Rodriguez was suspended for elbowing Perpetual Help’s Dean Apor in their second round duel, Letran questioned the decision as it filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), a move countered by the Mancom with a motion for reconsideration.

It was the first time in the league’s 80-year history that a member school resorted to the court of justice in disputing a Mancom decision. It drew flak from the basketball community.

In a related report, the Mancom will also decide today on an appeal filed by Perpetual Help coach Arturo "Bai" Cristobal, who was suspended in the first round, on Vladimir Joe’s suspension.

Palou has recommended the one-game suspension of Joe for throwing a punch that missed Mapua’s Erwin Sta. Maria. Sta. Maria was suspended because he instigated the fight by kneeing Joe’s groins.

If the suspension stays, Joe will be out of the Altas’ Final Four match on Saturday while Sta. Maria serves his when the Cardinals face the Red Lions on Wednesday at the Big Dome.