Cager’s stint in ‘outside’ tourney may DQ Lions

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda, which nailed the top seeding in the Final Four for the eighth straight season just last Saturday, may end up forfeiting all its Season 89 NCAA games if it could be proved that its guard, Ryusei Koga, had violated a league rule for playing in a tournament during the season.

“There were talks that he (Koga) played somewhere in Parañaque,” a source privy to the league board told The STAR yesterday.

“It should be verified because the league rule states that if it indeed he played there during the season, San Beda games where he played from the time he committed the violation shall be forfeited,” the same source added.

San Beda athletic director Ato Badolato neither confirmed nor denied the allegations on Koga, who didn’t suit up in San Beda’s 78-62 rout of Arellano U Saturday. The win gave the defending three-peat champions a league best 15-3 slate.

“Still investigating,” said Badolato.

The league Management Committee, however, has yet to officially discuss the issue since no official complaint has been lodged yet.

The only chance that the matter could be included in the Mancom’s Tuesday board meeting is if someone would raise it for discussion.

“Not all the Mancom members have knowledge about it but there are five board members who are already aware of the issue,” said the source. “The Mancom will meet on Tuesday but it’s not in the agenda.”

“If someone raises it, it may be discussed,” he added.

San Beda finished a full game ahead of Letran (14-4) with Perpetual Help (11-7) and San Sebastian (11-7) taking the other slots in the semis.

A forfeiture of the games, however, could send the Lions, who won seven championships in the last eight years, out of the Final Four for the first time in a long while.