UAAP: UE coach Zamar rips UAAP technical committee as Mammie's suspension upheld

University of the East Red Warriors coach Boysie Zamar ripped the UAAP technical committee's decision Friday to uphold the two-game suspension of their center, Charles Mammie.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Zamar felt the committee needed to give more consideration to the circumstances before and during the play.

"They have to give the three referees the benefit of the doubt," said Zamar, adding that the contact was clearly unintentional and that no foul was called on the floor.

He also said that Romeo appeared to sustain no injuries after the incident. "Hindi naman na-agrabyado si Romeo, hindi rin siya na-ospital. Naka-score pa nga siya ng seven points [pagkatapos noon]," he said.

[Related: Garcia-less FEU Tamaraws endure two OTs before dispatching UE Red Warriors]

Mammie was handed an unsportsmanlike foul by commissioner Chito Loyzaga after UE's second-round loss last Sunday versus the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. Mammie closed out hard to contest a three-point try by Terrence Romeo, which caused the latter to land on Mammie's foot, collapse on the ground and force an officials' timeout. Romeo shook off the pain though and went on to finish the game.

Zamar's comments, he added, were purely personal and didn't reflect the position of UE's management. However, he said he would support a move to escalate their appeal to the UAAP Board of Directors, as it would be in the best interest of his team.

As of writing, UE board representatives could not be reached for comment.

The 5-4 UE Red Warriors are currently fifth in the league, and will play their upcoming games against the NU Bulldogs and the DLSU Green Archers sans Mammie. Without the Sierra Leone center's 13.9 points per game, second-highest on the team, and his league-best 17.4 rebounds an outing, UE's postseason chances could take a serious hit.

[Related: UE Red Warrior Casajeros gets reprieve as suspension reduced to one game]

Warriors two-guard Lord Casajeros, meanwhile, had his two-game suspension downgraded to one game after the technical committee's meeting, Friday. - AMD, GMA News