UAAP commissioner junks UP's protest

UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato junked University of the Philippines' protest regarding two non-calls made by referees in the Fighting Maroons' loss to the National University Bulldogs on Sunday. Badolato, the former 16-time champion coach of the San Beda Red Cubs in the NCAA, said the two missed calls by the referees are not grounds for protest. "Judgment calls are not grounds for a protest, only technicalities so both calls were denied," said Badolato, who added that UP can appeal to the UAAP board. The Maroons cited in their protest that NU's Emmanuel Mbe should have been called for a goaltending violation for blocking Alvin Padilla's three-point attempt at the rim in the third quarter. The other non-call was on UP player Mark Juruena, who was instructed by acting State U coach Boyet Fernandez to deliberately cross the line before Jewel Ponferrada's second free throw attempt with 1.2 ticks left hoping to temp NU to do the same act and force a double lane violation and a jump ball situation at center court. NU escaped with a 61-59 win to keep UP winless after 10 games. Juruena was earlier assessed with five consecutive lane violations and tried to do the same for the sixth time only for the referees to let it go drawing the ire of Fernandez, who rushed to Badolato afterwards to plead his case. The game also paved the way for suspensions on Padilla and referees Ariel Bermejo and Glenn Cornelio. Padilla was handed a one-game ban for the second straight week for hurling invectives at the officials while Bermejo and Cornelio each received a suspension of two play dates for poor performance in the game. It was the second suspension of Cornelio, who early in the season received a similar sanction when he officiated in the Ateneo-Adamson match on July 15. The Blue Eagles won, 69-66. The Fighting Maroons appeared to be on their way of earning that elusive first win when Dionisio Hipolito was fouled by Mervin Baloran with 2.4 seconds left and UP down only by one point, 60-59. But Hipolito missed both free throws and Ponferrada grabbed the rebound forcing Miggy Maniego to foul the NU big man. Ponferrada made the first foul shot and was tasked by NU coach Eric Gonzales to intentionally miss the second that led to the bizarre ending. – JVP, GMANews.TV