Lions won’t appeal forfeiture vs Blazers
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:07:00 07/25/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Saying it would rather focus on its performance on the court, San Beda College has decided not to elevate the forfeiture of its 71-54 win over College of St. Benilde last Friday to the NCAA Policy Board.
“We just have to move on,” San Beda rector Fr. Mateo De Jesus told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday.
De Jesus’ statement came a day after the NCAA Management Committee upheld St. Benilde’s protest and ruled that the Lions violated a league policy when Sam Ekwe donned a uniform different from that of his teammates in their game against the Blazers.
Under NCAA rules, an athlete who is not in proper uniform is ineligible to compete and a team that fields an ineligible player will lose the game by forfeiture.
“We want to win on the court and we want to focus on that,” added De Jesus, who represents the school in the Policy Board.
The Lions, who bowed to Jose Rizal University, 79-74, Wednesday, fell to 4-2 and dropped into a tie at second with Mapua Institute of Technology, while St. Benilde moved up to solo fifth with a 3-3 slate.
Meanwhile, the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers shoot for their fourth straight victory against Mapua at 2 p.m. Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. San Sebastian College and St. Benilde part ways in the last game at 4 p.m.
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