Archers go for jugular with Araña off the hook

Good news for La Salle is bad news for FEU.

The UAAP technical committee yesterday upheld La Salle’s appeal regarding the suspension earlier slapped on Ryan Araña, therefore allowing the sophomore guard to play as the Green Archers shoot for the seniors crown this afternoon.

La Salle stunned defending champion FEU in the opener of the best-of-three series Thursday, 58-51, for a formidable edge as the Green Archers seek their fifth championship under coach Franz Pumaren in the last seven years.

La Salle tries to wrap up the series at 4 p.m. A victory by FEU, however, will send the series into a climactic finish on Thursday.

In Game 2, Araña was slapped an unsportsmanlike foul for holding on to Dennis Miranda’s arm as the FEU guard drove to the basket midway in the third period and La Salle ahead, 44-29. Araña was not ejected and went on to play a superb game.

Under the UAAP rules, an unsportsmanlike foul leads to an one-game suspension. But La Salle filed a strong appeal based on the fact that Araña did not have any intention to hurt Miranda when he committed the foul.

La Salle team manager Terry Capistrano welcomed the decision of the technical committee but said in the future, it must "put more weight on the gravity, degree or severity of the offense" that falls under the classification of an unsportsmanlike foul.

"An unsportsmanlike foul that was not meant to hurt an opposing player, like holding on to his jersey just to prevent a fastbreak, or holding on to an arm just to prevent a shot should not fall under the same offense as a foul with an intent to hurt," he said.

"I think there should be a classification on unsportsmanlike fouls. The UAAP must draw the line. Penalties and sanctions should be based on the gravity of the offense and not merely on technicality," Capistrano told The STAR.

La Salle based its appeal under this premise and requested the technical committee to review the tape. It was later established that Araña was merely trying to prevent Miranda from making the shot and did not mean to hurt the FEU star.

In its letter of appeal, La Salle quoted UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato who earlier filed a recommendation on the matter.

"Araña’s foul does not fall on the UAAP category of a highly unsportsmanlike foul. He merely held on the arms of the opponent just to stop the shot and did not mean to harm him. The undersigned does not recommend any additional sanction," was Badolato’s position.

"Of course, we’re happy, we’re very happy with the decision of the technical committee," said Capistrano.

If La Salle wraps it up today, then the Green Archers would even be happier.