La Salle suspension looms

Will the UAAP board suspend La Salle? Or will it just grant the school a leave of absence?

Sources close to the UAAP ad-hoc committee said no less than a suspension will be slapped on the school when it convenes in an emergency meeting on Wednesday at the Casino Español in San Marcelino.

A source told The STAR that the fact-finding board has already wrapped up its investigation on the La Salle eligibility scandal and is expected to submit its report during the meeting, actually set to tackle La Salle’s request for a leave of absence in Season 69.

"The agenda says it’s going to be about the letter of La Salle seeking a leave of absence," the source said. "But I think it’s going to be about the five-man committee making a recommendation."

Once the fact-fact finding committee, composed of Far Eastern U’s Josie de Leon, National U’s Arlene Royo, Adamson’s Ric Matibag and league counsel Rene Maria Villa, submits its recommendation, the board will deliberate on it before it puts the case into a vote.

Of the eight voting members, all schools, except La Salle, would be allowed to cast their votes. However, Fr. Max Rendon of Adamson, as board chair, would only vote in case of a 3-all tie.

La Salle last month filed a leave of absence from the league’s men’s basketball competition to enable it to institute reforms within its recruitment program in the aftermath of the eligibility scam.

But the source said the board is likely to reject La Salle’s appeal since it would only cover one sport. Under league rules, basketball and volleyball are mandatory sports for one school to be able to participate in the collegiate league.

"It’s (leave of absence) going to be discussed but it’s not possible because Adamson, for one, will surely contest that," the source said.

In 1994, Adamson was suspended not only in basketball but in other sports as well after it fielded in Marlou Aquino despite academic deficiencies.

La Salle got into trouble after it admitted to have unwittingly fielded in two players–Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian–with spurious admission papers during the 2004-2005 seasons.

A number of officials, led by varsity coach Franz Pumaren, resigned late last year to give the school a free hand to implement reforms and changes. — J. Villar