No dialogue for La Salle, UAAP board

The meeting between the UAAP and De La Salle that would have set the record straight with regard to the league’s decision to suspend the Taft-based school this season didn’t push through as planned yesterday.

"They know there is a meeting and a dialogue, maybe they felt its not the right time," said Far Eastern U’s Anton Montinola, who was appointed spokesperson on La Salle’s case.

Danny Jose and Lito Tanjuatco, La Salle’s board representatives, however, claimed there was no invitation from the UAAP to a meeting or a dialogue.

"No, I was not invited, I don’t know of any dialogue," said Jose. "Usually if there’s a board meeting they’ll send a notice to my office and there was none."

"I did not receive an invitation for a board meeting much less anything about a dialogue," Tanjuatco said.

Jose said if there’s any invitation for a meeting, it should come from either the president (Luz Sta. Ana) or the secretary (Bren Perez).

"Of course we would attend but the invitation has to come from the president or secretary of the UAAP, not from just anybody," he said.

The dialogue would have given the board, now chaired by Luz Sta. Ana of University of the East, the chance to explain the suspension it imposed on La Salle from participating in all events in UAAP’s Season 69, which unfolds July 8 with the basketball competition at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was La Salle which sought for a clarification, saying that there was no due process when the league rendered its decision.

Montinola said the meeting lasted for hours and discussed mainly on technical matters.

Elmer Yanga and Edmundo "Ato" Badolato were present in the meeting and discussed issues concerning officiating in basketball.

Yanga, a former team manager in the PBA and the PBL, was named this year’s commissioner replacing Joe Lipa, who is now coach of University of the Philippines. Joey Villar