La Salle wraps up inquiry

The La Salle fact-finding board has completed its investigation on two players who allegedly used spurious eligibility documents and will announce its findings in a press conference tomorrow.

Sources said the four-man committee is putting together all the summaries of facts and testimonies of La Salle cagers Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian along with the liaison officer, who was also implicated in the controversy which broke out Oct. 12 when La Salle admitted to have unknowingly fielded ineligible players the last two seasons.

A fourth figure, the former assistant coach of La Salle, was earlier named by one of the two players as one of the two personnel who helped secure the documents. But initial findings by the panel reportedly established that he had nothing to do in obtaining the fake PEP (Philippine Educational Placement) test results.

The sources also said that the panel seemed to have established that the two players were victims in the scam and La Salle is reportedly willing to render assistance to help them back on their feet academically and at the same time assist them to go back to high school if it is their option.

Meanwhile, the FEU Tamaraws yesterday said they are in no hurry to get their hands on the 2004 UAAP championship trophy, which may soon be forfeited and surrendered by the La Salle Green Archers.

"No, we’re not," FEU team manager Anton Montinola told The STAR when asked if the Tamaraws are now entertaining thoughts of having the trophy delivered to them.

"We’re still enjoying the 2005 championship," added Montinola, just a couple of weeks after the Tamaraws swept the Green Archers in the finals of the 68th UAAP season.

The Tamaraws finished second to the Green Archers in 2004 but may end up being declared the champions after La Salle admitted fielding an ineligible player the last two years.

La Salle has completed its investigation and will forward a formal report to the UAAP board.

The board may conduct its own investigation in case it’s not satisfied with La Salle’s. Or it may go to vote whether or not La Salle should be banned from joining the league next year.

Ricky Palou, who heads the UAAP technical committee, said only four votes are needed to ban La Salle. There are eight school members but only seven will vote, excluding La Salle.

Unconfirmed reports said some board members want a longer three-year ban on the Green Archers. But whether it should apply only to men’s basketball is another issue.

"We don’t want to even comment on it because it’s the UAAP board that will make the final decision. It’s premature," said Montinola, a board member.

"It may be easy for La Salle to return the trophy but we went through one year of heartache," he added as he recalled the pains of losing in the 2004 finals.

"We’re happy with what we have right now. And we’re not looking for anything else," added the FEU team manager who, however, is hoping that La Salle finishes its investigation soon.

"Because it’s getting quite confusing, quite disturbing," he said. — Abac Cordero