No sanction on Maroons but Buyco suspended

University of the Philippines was spared from any sanction after briefly walking out of the game following the ejection of coach Joe Lipa in their highly-emotional tiff against Ateneo Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

UP starting center Ira Buyco, however, didn’t escape punishment as he was suspended for one game for hitting Ateneo guard Macky Escalona on the face in a rebound play late in the second quarter.

Buyco will serve his suspension Saturday when UP takes on Adamson at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The fiery UP slotman was the third player suspended this season after Santo Tomas’ Jojo Duncil and National U’s Jonathan Jahnke.

The near walkout was triggered by the ejection of Lipa, who was thrown out of the game early in the second quarter after being assessed a second technical foul for heatedly contesting referees’ calls.

He incurred the first infraction for disputing a blocking foul call on UP rookie Miguel de Asis against a driving Ford Arao.

The Maroons left their bench and headed to the dugout when Lipa was ejected of the game. The team, however, returned shortly with the Eagles later winning the contest, 98-88.