INQUIRER Sports

The title aspirations of the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens was severely hampered after their appeal for reconsideration regarding the season-long suspension of three of their players was denied yesterday by Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy.

CIT is leading the best-of-five series in the juniors division against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, 1-0, following their 68-60 win in Game 1 last Thursday.

However, the aftermath of that victory saw three of their players, namely Joseph Nalos, John Gera and Carlos Figuracion get ejected and subsequently suspended for the remainder of the season for leaving the bench area during a fracas with just 25.9 seconds left in the game.

CIT athletic director Alex dela Torre filed an appeal with the commissioner last Friday citing that the troika only went inside the court to pacify the situation and not to escalate the melee.

However, he was denied by Tiukinhoy as the latter stood pat on his decision based on the Article F, Section 5 of the Amended Rules and Regulations of the Cesafi, which states "any player or players of a team, coaches, team officials and utility staff who participate in a melee and seen inside the court will be penalized by suspension for the rest of the season."

Tiukinhoy added in his letter: ?While your good self only emphasized that the rule only applies to those who participate in a melee, the rule should be read in its entirety to include the phrase ". . . and seen inside the court will be penalized. . ."

Tiukinhoy said his decision can still be reversed but will be needed to be appealed to the Cesafi Board of Trustees.