NCAA Commissioner thinks referees handled EAC-Mapua brawl well

MANILA, Philippines – NCAA Commissioner Bai Cristobal stood by the referees’ handling the bench-clearing brawl between the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and the Mapua Cardinals on Monday, September 22. 

“The referee is on top of the situation and it was a non-call,” Cristobal said, referring to the shove by EAC point guard John Tayongtong on Mapua’s CJ Isit, which prompted Leo Gabo to come to the aid of his teammate and push Tayongtong. 

(WATCH: EAC-Mapua NCAA game ends in brawl)

Isit later got up and tried to intervene between Tayongtong and Gabo, leading to Tayongtong throwing a punch straight to Isit’s face. 

“But nung nakita nung isang player nila (Gabo of Mapua), binalikan kaagad. Siya yung nag-instigate ng brawl. Tinawagan naman agad (ng referee),” Cristobal added. (But when the Mapua player saw what happened, he retaliated right away. He instigated the brawl. The referee made a call right away.)

Mapua coach Atoy Co, however, was anything but pleased with how the entire game was officiated. 

“Hindi na-control ng referee yung tawagan,” Co said. “Siyempre kahit papaano iinit at iinit. Lamang na sila (EAC), binanatan pa ni Tayongtong si Isit. Sa umpisa pa lang ganun na ginagawa niya.” (The referee was not able to control the calls. Naturally, tempers will escalate. They were already leading but Tayongtong still hit Isit. He was doing that from the start.) 

Dude caught me with a mean blow. I was not ready. I thought we were doubling. Lol. Im down to square tho. Tell me when.

— CJ isit (@iamISIT) September 22, 2014

The referees for the game were Maynard Ballecer, Molly de Luna, and Cholo Caoile.

Suspensions coming 

The Commissioner also stressed that he won’t be taking this incident lightly, saying one-day to 3-day suspensions will likely befall players from both squads.

Cristobal said he already anticipated this sort of melee to happen even before the season started. He therefore laid out some sanctions and ground rules but the NCAA ManComm has yet to finalize it.

But the Commissioner is looking at handing out a slew of suspensions depending on the severity of the player’s actions.

“We have the ground rules na anybody who has been thrown out in the bench-clearing (brawl) is an automatic one-game suspension,” he explained.

“Depende pa sa gravity. If you instigate the fight, mas malaki, you will get 3 games, I think. One game suspension pag pumasok ka lang sa court. Glaring or intent to punch somebody, may nakasulat din na two games or 3 games. I will come out with it, I have the infractions, but sila (ManComm) ang magdedecide.”

(We have the ground rules that anybody who has been thrown out in the bench-clearing brawl is an automatic one-game suspension. It depends on the gravity. If you instigate the fight, your sanction is worse, you will get 3 games, I think. One game suspension if you just enter the court. Glaring or with intent to punch somebody, it is written that it would be two or 3 games. I will come out with it, I have the infractions, but they will decide.) 

All players from both squads were ejected except for EAC’s Joshua General and Mapua’s Jessie Saitanan.

The match was halted with 28.5 seconds remaining with the Generals declared the winner as they were up 86-77.

Both teams are tied in the standings with a 4-11 record and still have 3 remainings games each to play in the eliminations. – Rappler.com