By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - July 30, 2006
University of the East was hit with a double whammy yesterday.
Not only did UE lose the game but also its P100,000 cash bond after UAAP commissioner Chito Narvasa yesterday ruled that its protest against the victory of Far Eastern University last Saturday had no merit.
In a seven-page decision, the UAAP technical committee dismissed UE’s protest which said a late call by a referee affected the outcome of the game which FEU won, 71-69.
In losing its protest, UE forfeited the P100,000 bond it had to pay which is a requirement for filing the protest, a rule applied by the league beginning this season.
Had the protest been upheld, the money would have been returned and a hearing held.
But there was no such luck for UE.
"In the light of the foregoing, this office finds your (UE) protest with no basis and merit," Narvasa wrote Pumaren. "It is ruled that the result of the game between FEU-UE played last Saturday remain as is and recorded as official."
The Red Warriors were contesting a basket made by Marlon Adolfo with 3:03 remaining in the final quarter. UE claimed that Adolfo’s basket should have been nullified because the 24-hour shot clock had already elapsed.
They also noted in their formal protest filed Monday that the play clock stopped after Adolfo’s basket was considered as counted by game officials.
But in the decision, the UAAP said that UE had every chance to recover after the basket was made and therefore such had no effect in the result of the contest.
"The error or mistake did not determine the outcome of the game," Narvasa said, acknowledging there might be an error on the part of the game officials.
"Every opportunity to recover and make the proper adjustments were still available to UE."
The technical committee also cited that "the alleged error was committed far away from the end of the game and the Red Warriors have enough opportunity to overcome or rise above the disadvantage resulting from the error."
Pumaren confirmed that they have received the ruling and said that he will meet with school officials to decide on their next move, which most likely will be an appeal to the UAAP board.
"I still have to meet with UE officials," Pumaren said.
UE has until today to make an appeal to the board. Once received, the board have one week to decide on the matter.
And in the event the UE appeal is upheld, the P100,000 bond will be returned.
Despite the commissioner’s ruling, Pumaren said that the team remains focused for their crucial game Saturday against De La Salle, in a rematch of last year’s finals.
"Were still focused on our campaign and we still have our regular practices," said Pumaren.
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