UAAP junks UST protest vs Ateneo

InterAKTV file photo/Roy Afable

The UAAP technical committee on Thursday upheld commissioner Ato Badolato’s decision to deny University Santo Tomas’ protest of its 68-66 loss to Ateneo last Saturday.

“After careful review and deliberation, the technical committee has decided to uphold the decision of the commissioner. Therefore, the protest has been denied,” said UAAP secretary-general Junel Baculi on National University, reading from a statement.

Baculi added that there is a difference between the protest filed by UST compared to that of NU over the Bulldogs’ loss to Far Eastern University. The technical committee ordered a re-play of the FEU-NU game, which is set on Sunday.

“Judgment calls [like in UST's protest] are not subject to protest,” Baculi said, adding that the NU protest was a reviewable call which could still be reversed.

UST protested a goal-tending violation called on Karim Abdul on a shot by Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe and the failure of referees to call a technical foul on Ateneo coach Norman Black for crossing the halfcourt line.

Tigers coach Pido Jarencio, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment over the decision.

“Ang sa ‘kin lang, I’m not against the UAAP board. Pero bakit hindi nirespeto yung house rules natin?” Jarencio said. “Kapag walang batas, eh ‘di siga sana tayong lahat.

“Kaso kapag siga ako, pipituhan na ako kasi si Pido Jarencio ako e.”

Baculi said that UST still has an option to elevate the case to the UAAP Board of Trustees.

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