Thoughts on the Current UAAP Suspension Fiasco

     Well, I didn't expect to return at this time.

     I'll be honest, I was eyeing to return last week, but ACTUAL basketball actually stopped me from doing so. In short, I've been playing more with my buddies from #K2015, and that's taken up my time from writing about UAAP basketball. Well I've found time, so here I am writing about controversy. Great way to return, aye?

Coach Bo has been subject to much controversy over the past few days.
(credits to sir Roy Afable)

     Other than the long resolved Perasol - Atayde (Not Tony, ladies and gentlemen, but JJ) feud, Bo has all of a sudden been involved in another controversy, this time involving his presence during the ADMU - UE game this past Sunday.

    As reported in spin.ph (original article: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/ateneo-faces-forfeiture-of-ue-win-after-banned-perasol-allegedly-seen-at-game)

ATENEO is facing forfeiture of Sunday’s victory over University of the East after suspended coach Bo Perasol was allegedly spotted at the Mall of Asia Arena during their UAAP men's basketball game.

A league official said UE has asked the UAAP board to look into the alleged presence of Perasol somewhere inside the MOA Arena on Sunday while the game was ongoing.

The official also said UE had photo evidence that Perasol was at the arena and was even seen singing Ateneo’s alma mater song at the end of the game.

    Shall the Atenean rampage commence.

  Ateneans (including I, admittedly so), went on a rampage, sending out tweets disagreeing with the protest of UE. Here are some of those tweets I was talking about:

Stop playing basketball na lang and let the UAAP Board play 2k13
— Miguel Lizada (@mlizada) September 9, 2013

PIKON is ALWAYS TALO...ALWAYS...
— RB Hizon, SJ (@RBHizonSJ) September 9, 2013

   Although you couldn't really blame UE for doing so. It was the perfect opportunity to do so. After all, their next two games were against UP and Adamson, two slumping teams. But was it the right thing to do? More on that later.

   Hours after the report above was released, spin.ph reported that Bo was actually indeed at the game, but with the blessing of officials. (original article: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/perasol-indeed-at-game-but-presence-cleared-with-school-league-officials)

ATENEO coach Bo Perasol was indeed at Sunday’s UAAP game against University of the East, but his presence had the blessing of school and league officials.

This was the contention of an Ateneo official who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he confirmed that Perasol went to the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday after getting clearance from top school officials as well as one ranking member of the Commissioner's Office.

  Note the text in bold. Looks like Bo actually got the blessing not only from Ateneo officials, but also from the LEAGUE itself.

  Then, well, Ateneo dropped the bomb, and this was a bomb many UAAP fans, even those who weren't Ateneans, thought was coming.

  Since the original letter is too long (you can check it out here at sir Rick Olivares' blog: http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2013/09/ateneo-to-ask-uaap-to-look-into.html)

  Before anything else, let me show you guys what will happen between the two situations.

  If Ateneo's win against UE is forfeited

1. NU 9 - 4 (via quotient)
2. DLSU 9 - 4 (via quotient)
3. FEU 9 - 4 (via quotient)
4. UST 7 - 5
5. UE 6 - 6 (via quotient)
6. ADMU 6 - 6

  If Ateneo and UE's protests are granted

1. NU 9 - 4
2. ADMU 8 -4 (because of Thomas Torres incident, and assumption that UE and Ateneo protests between Olivares and Perasol cancel out)
3. DLSU 8 -5 (via quotient, presence of Thomas Torres during ADMU win affects them)
4. FEU 8 - 5 (via quotient, presence of RR Garcia during UE win affects them)
5. UST 7 - 5
6. UE 6 - 6 (UE and Ateneo protests probably cancel out, UE wins vs. FEU)

   If you're an Atenean, of course you'd want the second scenario to happen, and since I am also a UST fan, I really do hope the second scenario happens. If you're a DLSU, FEU, UE fan, you'd want the first scenario to happen. If you're and NU and UST fan, you probably wouldn't care, since either way, you still have a chance at a final four spot.

  So what's my stand on this? As much as I want the second scenario to happen, I just want all protests to be junked, and to go on with the UAAP season. This season has had far too many controversies. And I thought last season was controversial.

  First of all, I commend Commissioner Chito Loyzaga for handing out right and just suspensions this season. The suspension of Bo was correct. Although the way the Mammie suspension was handled wasn't pretty, it was still correctly called. Kume, saludo ako sa'yo.

  Second, by no means is this Kume Chito's fault. It's actually the UAAP's fault. Why? Well, first of all, the rules aren't clear, and they actually overlap. Consider this: One rule states that, "a suspended athlete shall not be allowed to sit in the bench and its immediate vicinity during the period of suspension", while another states that, "the presence of a suspended coach, manager, assistant manager, statistician, scores, masseurs etc. and those listed as members of the team, shall not be allowed in the bench or venue during the period of suspension". Aren't the actual players members of the team? I'm sure they are, right? And, I'm sure immediate vicinity can refer to patron seats right? So Ralf Olivares, RR Garcia, Thomas Torres who was even called for an interview along the bench, Charles Mammie and Lord Casajeros are all affected by the rule right?

Doesn't this seem like within "immediate vicinity"?
(credits to spin.ph)

    It may seem like I'm pointing towards the second scenario to push through, but whether you like it or not, the rules actually do overlap. So the players aren't really the criminals, they're more of the victims when you think about it. Victims of a messed up system.

  Third, if there's someone we should point a finger to other than the UAAP, it should be UE. After all, they started this whole fiasco right? Think about it. After Sunday's game, NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, tweeted or reported regarding Coach Bo's appearance right? People were more concerned regarding Sumang's injury, and the multiple Ryan Buenafe memes being posted on the internet. In short, UE made this an issue, no one else. 

   Fourth point, to the fans, stop making it seem like a player is less significant than the coach and vice versa. Seriously. I've seen tweets saying, "The player is there to play, and the coach is there to coach his team, so mas malaki maitutulong ng coach siyempre!". No. Let me borrow a quote from my CLE teacher, Sir Jerry Pavia. These weren't his exact words, but it went with something like this: "Students learn the most from their peers, not their teachers.". In short, the presence of a team mate means a hell lot to his team mates.

  Lastly, UAAP, please, please lang, get your act together. 

"Going for the rebound" huh. What a dirty way to do so then.

  These judgement calls have been ridiculous, to say the least. The tackle of Javillionar on Teng was obviously intentional. If it wasn't intentional, Javillionar would've either went left to overtake him, or he would've slowed down for a bit, but he didn't. He went straight up as if he was Goldberg spearing The Rock. Now, a simple appearance by a suspended coach to congratulate his assistant warrants a possible forfeiture. Unbelievable. 

  This is the UAAP, where controversy never ends.