Ateneo center spared from suspension

Ateneo center Rabeth Al-Hussaini was not suspended but given a stern warning by the UAAP for his misconduct in the Eagles’ shock 80-88 overtime loss to the Santo Tomas Tigers Sunday at the Philsports Arena.

Al-Hussaini, a sophomore out of Philippine Christian U High, was assessed a flagrant and a technical foul that led to his ejection in the third quarter of the hotly-contested UST-Ateneo duel.

"From our end, we just warned Rabeth Al-Hussaini of Ateneo," said commissioner Elmer Yanga.

The 6-foot-8 Al-Hussaini will thus suit up when the Eagles collide with the National U Bulldogs on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.

The decision came a week after the league has suspended State U center Ira Buyco for a flagrant foul in the Maroons’ 88-98 defeat to the Blue Eagles a week back.

But while Buyco hit and bloodied Ateneo guard Macky Escalona’s right eyebrow Al-Hussaini only drew flagrant foul and technical foul and simply delayed the resumption of the game.

The league last week also spared fiery coach Joe Lipa and the Maroons from sanctions following their aborted walkout early in the second quarter of the Ateneo-UP match. — Joey Villar