Court orders UAAP to reinstate disqualified UPIS cager

MANILA, Philippines - The UAAP agreed to let Joshua General suit up for University of the Philippines-Integrated School after the player’s parents secured a temporary restraining order.

The league said it will abide by the 20-day TRO issued last Aug. 16 by Quezon City RTC Branch 99 Judge Ma. Rita Bascos Sarabia that ordered the UAAP to refrain from implementing its ruling disqualifying  General from playing for UPIS in UAAP Season 76.

“The UAAP Board will honor the TRO and will allow Joshua General to play in UPIS’s games covered by the 20-day period,” the league said in a statement issued by Season 76 secretary-treasurer Malou Isip of Adamson.

The board, she added, has set the TRO issue as one of its agenda for its next regular board meeting on Aug. 22.

With the restraining order granted, the UPIS Junior Maroons immediately utilized General as starter when they battled the Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs yesterday at the Blue Eagle Gym. The Junior Maroons won, 73-71, with General producing two points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes on the floor.

“I started him, he struggled but that’s understandable,” UPIS coach Allan Gregorio said of his big man, who saw action for the first time since the league disqualified him from the juniors competitions last month for “exceeding the five-year period for junior players from the time of graduation from grade school.”

General’s parents, Jose and Mary Christine General, had filed the case against the UAAP in a bid to get their son reinstated. General is expected to suit up for UPIS during the period covered.

“I’m so happy that me and Ms Isip talked earlier and she said the UAAP will respect the TRO,” said Gregorio.

He intends to field in General in their future games as he sees fit.

“Sabi sa akin ng UP (My instruction from UP is), I just focus on things I can focus on, and that’s encouraging the boys to keep winning more. Beyond that, let’s leave it to the lawyers,” Gregorio said.