The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will miss head coach Bo Perasol in three important games coming up at the start of the second round in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
Perasol was handed a three-game suspension yesterday by the UAAP’s technical panel.
The sanctions were handed down following an incident during the Fighting Maroons’ game against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“After thorough review and careful deliberation made by the technical committee, we deemed it fit that the penalty of three-game suspension handed to coach Bo Perasol for his actions in the game between Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines last Sunday,” said UAAP Basketball Commissioner Jensen Ilagan.
The incident took place with 6:23 left in the third period when Perasol entered the playing court to confront Jaime Rivano over what he believes were a series of non-calls and the technical foul which was slapped on UP big man Bright Akhuetie.
While Perasol was being restrained by members of the team, he was handed two technical fouls for his unsportsmanlike behavior, leading to his disqualification.
Ilagan said that based on Art. 9.2.1 of the UAAP General Tournament Guidelines, 2019, “a student-athlete, coach, trainer, or team manager, team official or any accompanying delegation member who is disqualified, thrown out of or ejected from unsportsmanlike behavior from the game by the concerned game official shall not be allowed to play in the immediately succeeding game. Should said game be canceled, the suspension will be served in the game that immediately follows.”
The two technical fouls translated to an automatic one-game suspension and Ilagan explained that an additional two-game suspension was meted on Perasol for committing “continuous flagrant acts of aggression” towards the game official after being restrained repeatedly by the UP Fighting Maroons team members.
Because of this, Perasol won’t be around when UP plays against Far Eastern University (October 6), University of the East (October 12), and University of Santo Tomas (October 16).
The three games will determine UP’s capability to improve on their hold on the no. 2 spot in the team standings, with their 5-2 win-loss record at the end of the second round.
Perasol earlier wrote an open letter to the UP community to apologize for his behavior.
“I know that there are those who are unconditionally behind me as coach regarding my behavior during the UP-Ateneo game and many who are cursing me to high heavens for my fighting stance, to the point that I ended up being ejected. Many in the UP community expect so much from this Maroons team for Season 82. I don’t blame them. Truth to tell, though, more than any true-blooded Isko or Iska, I as coach expect so much from this present line up. I am, as coach, in charge of what the players will ever become at the end of the season, as champions or mere contenders with nothing to show for despite the huge build up we made,” said Perasol in his statement.
Perasol said there is still hope for the Fighting Maroons to make it to the Final Four, and maybe, the finals again.
“The season is not lost just because we lost our last game. Definitely, we are not yet done with Season 82 due to my ejection over what I view as both poor and biased officiating. I paid the price for my reaction by not being able to coach the rest of the game,” added Perasol.