The University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Friday, August 7, formalized what would become of the Ateneo men’s basketball team in Season 89.
The Blue Eagles will be allowed, with certain “preconditions,” to participate in the upcoming season, but will most definitely require a major overhaul after the UAAP imposed a lifetime ban on former coach Tab Baldwin, as well as indefinite suspensions against key coaching and team personnel including former team manager Epok Quimpo.
BALDWIN PERPETUALLY BANNED, OTHERS SUSPENDED
Embattled former head coach Thomas Anthony Baldwin, commonly known as Coach Tab, faces the heftiest penalty as he receives an unappealable lifetime expulsion from the UAAP Board.
This essentially removes all access to any and all UAAP competitions and other activities. Baldwin is also “prohibited from entering any UAAP competition venue.”
Receiving suspensions "until further determination by the UAAP Board” are the following:
Team Manager Christopher John Quimpo
Assistant coach Dean Caesar Castaño
Assistant coach Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano
Assistant coach Reynaldo Jacinto Jr.
Assistant coach Hernan Ameer Domingo
Assistant coach Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba
Assistant coach Grant Dearns
Physical therapist (PT) John Eric Rueca
During the period of suspension, the aforementioned team personnel are also prohibited from attending and/or participating in whatever capacity any and all UAAP competitions and related activities, but are appealable and can be subject to review by the UAAP Board.
This decision is the latest development to further surround the aftermath of the June 8 tragedy since authorities and parties involved conducted their respective fact-finding efforts and investigations.
The UAAP said they came up with the verdict in consideration of Ateneo’s “internal investigation,” as well as its administrative review of "publicized reports” and recommendations of investigative government agencies PNP-CIDG and NBI.
STUDENT-ATHLETES “VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY”
The UAAP Board notes in its decision that the Ateneo men’s basketball team, in this case only pertaining to its student-athletes, are not to be held liable as the players “are themselves victims of this tragedy.”
Regarding this conclusion, the Board said it considered the findings of the investigating agencies which “did not make any recommendation to hold liable the student-athletes present at the incident.”
“PRECONDITIONS”
The UAAP, in its August 7 decision, also mentioned the existence of a precondition for the Ateneo de Manila University to continuously participate in the upcoming season.
Though not pragmatically fleshed out as to the steps to undertake and measures to meet, the Board simply said it is requiring Ateneo to “undertake a comprehensive reassessment of the organizational structure and management of its men’s basketball team in relation to the University’s entire athletics program.”
It further said this ‘precondition’ is aimed at strengthening student protection and institutional oversight.
Read the UAAP
