UE to appeal for game ban on Olivares

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled University of the East is poised to appeal the two-game suspension slapped on Ralf Olivares as the UAAP Season 76 cage hostilities heat up both inside and outside the court.

“UE will make an appeal for Olivares. Baka bukas mapadala ang letter of appeal (The letter of appeal should be with the Commissioner’s office by today),” said UE coach Boycie Zamar.

Olivares has been banned for two games by commissioner Chito Loyzaga for “multiple instances of unsportsmanlike behavior” during the Warriors’ loss to National U last Saturday. 

As such, he will have to join another suspended Warrior Charles Mammie in the sidelines when they play La Salle in a crucial match tomorrow. Olivares will also have to sit out UE’s succeeding game against Ateneo. 

That is unless the technical committee will downgrade the penalty like it did in UE’s previous appeal in another case, that of Lord Casajeros whose suspension was reduced to one game upon appeal.

As this developed, Ateneo is lodging a complaint over the “heckling” incident that sparked the altercation involving coach Bo Perasol and a La Salle fan following the Archers’ 66-64 triumph Sunday.

“We will file an official incident report to the commissioner to complain about the incident,” Ateneo team manager Paolo Trillo said yesterday.

Trillo, one of those who restrained a fuming Perasol as he was trying to charge at a La Salle supporter, claimed that the Ateneo mentor was provoked and subjected to expletives by not just one, but two Archers fans.

The Blue Eagles are not demanding for anything like ban or sanction on the fans at this point, though.

“We’ll leave it to the commissioner to see what action he would take,” said Trillo.