UST protest rejected by UAAP commissioner

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo’s win stands.

UAAP basketball commissioner Ato Badolato on Monday, September 17, rejected the University of Santo Tomas (UST)’s protest on their loss against the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles.

In a report on sports website Spin.ph, Badolato was quoted as saying that he turned down the protest because the referees’ decisions were “judgment calls.”

UST filed the protest the day after the game because of a goaltending violation called on Tigers center Karim Abdul, and a non-call on Ateneo head coach Norman Black.

According to them, Black should have been called for a technical foul when he entered the court to protest what he felt was a non-call. Abdul’s violation, meanwhile, paved the way to a 3-point play by Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe with 5.1 seconds left in the game.

During a post-game interview with media, Black mentioned the alleged non-calls. “I didn’t understand why there were no foul calls,” he said on Saturday, September 15.

UST has another option, however. They can file the protest before the UAAP technical board, similar to what National University (NU) did when Badolato rejected their protest over their defeat to Far Eastern University (FEU).

The UAAP Board later overturned Badolato’s decision. NU and FEU will replay their game on September 23.

UST currently holds a 9-4 record, while the Blue Eagles have a league-leading 12-2 win-loss record. The win over UST secured them a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, and the top spot at the end of the elimination round. -Rappler.com