The University Athletic Association of the Philippines has downgraded the sanction meted on University of the East head coach Jack Santiago for “conduct unbecoming of a head coach” from three games to two games.
The suspension stemmed from UE’s game against the University of the Philippines last Saturday when Santiago was heard instructing his student-athletes to deliberately harm UP’s Ricci Rivero in the second quarter.
UAAP Season 84 basketball commissioner Tonichi Pujante said a thorough review showed Santiago telling his players to inflict harm on Rivero.
Pujante had recommended a suspension on Santiago for the rest of the first round or the Red Warriors’ next three games, but the UE coach appealed the sanction, prompting the commissioner’s office to reduce it to two matches.
“Violence is never an option,” said Pujante. “Let this serve as a lesson to the entire UAAP community as well.”
Santiago will also serve his suspension on Thursday against Adamson University.
Also suspended for one gameday is one of the three game officials of the UE-UP match. The erring referee was able to hear Santiago’s instructions to his players but failed to act on it.
The league did not disclose the name of the referee for privacy reasons.
Meanwhile, UE’s Harvey Pagsanjan has also been summoned by the Commissioner’s Office for his unsportsmanlike foul penalty two on UP’s Zavier Lucero.
The incident occurred at the 2:26 mark of the second quarter.
Pagsanjan, along with a guardian or a team official, will have to go to the commissioner’s office at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.