Arellano withdraws protest

MANILA, Philippines - Citing sportsmanship and the betterment of the league, Arellano University withdrew its plan of protesting its 112-114 double overtime loss to Jose Rizal in their 91st NCAA basketball tournament second round duel at The Arena in San Juan last Thursday.

Arellano’s NCAA Management Committee representative Peter Cayco said in a statement yesterday that it was no less than their school president, Francisco Cayco, who pulled the plug from the planned protest.

“I was ordered by my president not to put the game under protest in the spirit of sportsmanship and in the interest of the NCAA,” said Cayco. “Jose Rizal had nothing to do with the errors of game officials.”

Jose Rizal thus kept the win, its sixth against four losses, the same (win-loss) record of Arellano.

To date, the Bombers and the Chiefs are at joint fourth behind the league-leading Letran Knights and San Beda Lions (9-2) and No. 3 Perpetual Help Altas (7-3).

Arellano was contesting the late downgrading by the refs of Tey Teodoro’s triple that the former argued forced Jio Jalalon to foul Gio Lasquety knowing it is down by a point with 1.5 seconds left.

Lasquety eventually iced the game by canning the two bonus shots.

Cayco further said had the officials downgraded Teodoro’s triple to just a two-pointer, the Chiefs wouldn’t have fouled.

Cayco, however, said it’s all water under the bridge now.

“Let’s all move on,” he said.

Mancom chair Melchor Divina of Mapua lauded Arellano’s recent decision.

“We commend Arellano for its decision. This is for the good of the league,” he said.