DLSU probers to invite asst coach

La Salle sports development director Bro. Bobby Casingal said yesterday the fact-finding committee formed to get to the bottom of the scandal involving two academically ineligible varsity players is considering to invite a former Archers assistant coach to shed light on the case.

Sources said one of the two players testified that the former assistant coach facilitated the application of his Philippine Educational Placement (PEP) test. However, it was not established that the coach had anything to do with the issuance of the PEP test certificate which turned out to be spurious as confirmed by the Department of Education (DepEd) in a verification requested by La Salle last August.

The player reportedly said the team liaison officer assisted in the release of his PEP test certificate.

The former assistant coach left La Salle in 1997 and never served in current coach Franz Pumaren’s staff. He was not mentioned by the other player.

Sources also said the testimony of the liaison officer has been taken by the committee. The liaison officer denied any wrongdoing.

Three members of the four-man committee met yesterday to discuss what else they need to do before turning over the facts to a group that will craft the report to be submitted to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board of Trustees.

The members of the committee are Bro. Casingal, the school’s legal counsel, the university registrar and La Salle representative to the UAAP Board Lito Tanjuatco.

Sources said the target is to finish the report by next week. La Salle will call a press conference to disclose the findings contained in the report.

As regards former La Salle player Mark Cardona, school sources said the DepEd is still in the process of verifying his PEP test results. Cardona said he took the test in 2001 and qualified as a college eligible. He added he is confident the DepEd will confirm his claim.

The university registrar requested the DepEd to verify Cardona’s records, according to university executive vice president Dr. Carmelita Quebengco.

The controversy started when La Salle announced on Oct. 12 that it is investigating a player, who played from 2003-2005, with a fake PEPTCR. A few days later, the Department of Education announced another player had played with La Salle also with a bogus paper.

Although La Salle and DepEd refused to name the players, internet message boards and newspaper reports point to center Mark Benitez as the first player and guard Tim Gatchalian the second.

In the course of the investigation, the names of two team officials have been mentioned as having played a role in the controversy. But they have yet to be identified. – With report from Nelson Beltran