MANILA, Philippines - Like Emilio Aguinaldo College last week, Mapua will forfeit its match against Letran at resumption of action in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament today with just four players left following suspensions in the aftermath of the EAC- Mapua brawl last Monday.
“As much as we want to play, we only have four players, which is one short of the required minimum for a team to get to play,” said Melchor Divina, Mapua’s Management Committee representative, yesterday.
CJ Isit, Joseph Eriobu, Jeson Cantos and Jessie Saitanan were spared of suspensions following the free-for-all.
Suspended Mapua cagers were Leo Gabo (four games), Jomari Tubiano (3), Justin Serrano (2), James Galoso (2), Exeqiel Biteng (2), Andrew Estrella (2), Jerome Canaynay (1), Ronnel Villasenor (1) and Darrel Magsigay (1).
The Knights will thus improve to 7-9 but they have been booted out of the semis race as early as last week. Mapua will fall to 4-12.
Meanwhile, EAC (4-13), which earlier forfeited its game against Perpetual Help due to lack of players last Friday, will play its final game at 5 p.m. today against San Sebastian (4-11) with just five players.
Faustine Pascual returns after serving a one-game suspension and will rejoin teammates Jozhua General, Jerald Serrano, Christ Mejos and Ai Indin.
Still suspended EAC players are John Tayongtong (five games), Jan Jamon (3), Ariel Aguilar (3), Jack Arquero (3), Sydney Onwubere (3), John Santos (2), Manelle Quilanita (2), Edsel Saludo (2) and Faustine Pascual (1).
The league also sacked and fined referees Molly de Luna, Menard Ballecer and Cholo Caoile for failing to control the game.