EAC forfeits Perpetual game due to brawl suspensions

MANILA, Philippines – Ravaged with suspensions, Emilio Aguinaldo College forfeited its game against Perpetual Help on Thursday, September 25 after failing to come up with the required five players for it to play in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Jozhua General, Jerald Serrano, Christ Mejos and Ai Indin were the only EAC players that escaped suspension but it was not enough to meet the minimum league requirements of five players for a team to be allowed to play.

“Basing on our NCAA rulebook, a team must have at least five players to play. Otherwise, the game will be forfeited,” said Paul Supan, who chairs the NCAA Management Committee, in a statement.

EAC players who were suspended were John Tayongtong (five games), Jan Jamon (3), Ariel Aguilar (3), Jack Arquero (3), Sydney Onwubere (3), John Santos (2), Manelle Quilanita (2), Edsel Saludo (2) and Faustine Pascual (1).

Igee King and Cameroonian Noube Happi were not suspended but the two have left the team due to personal reasons.

The forfeiture marked the first time that the league has seen one after it also reversed a San Beda win over College of St. Benilde after Nigerian-born Red Lion Sam Ekwe wore the team uniform from the previous season.

With the loss, EAC fell to 4-13 while Perpetual Help improved to 10-6 to climb to solo fourth behind four-peat titlist San Beda (13-3), Arellano University (12-4) and St. Benilde (10-5).

EAC will play its last game of the season on Monday, September 29 against San Sebastian although with just five players as Faustine Pascual should return from a one-game suspension.

The ugly incident also led to the suspensions of Mapua’s Leo Gabo (4 games), Jomari Tubiano (3), Justin Serrano (2), James Galoso (2), Exeqiel Biteng (2), Andrew Estrella (2), Jerome Canaynay (1), Ronnel Villasenor (1) and Darrel Magsigay (1).

CJ Isit, Joseph Eriobu, Jessie Saitanan and Jeson Cantos were spared of suspensions.

League commissioner Arturo “Bai” Cristobal fined and indefinitely suspended referees Molly de Luna, Menard Ballecer and Cholo Caoile for their failure to control the game. – Rappler.com

Related Stories

• NCAA suspends most of EAC, Mapua rosters, 3 refs for brawl
• NCAA Commissioner thinks referees handled EAC-Mapua brawl well
• WATCH: EAC-Mapua NCAA game ends in brawl