FEU’s Garcia faces freezer

FAR Eastern’s crack guard RR Garcia courts a one-game suspension after incurring a second unsportsmanlike foul. August dela Cruz

Far Eastern University’s second-round woes in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament continue with ace guard RR Garcia facing possible suspension.

Garcia, the league MVP in 2010, picked up his second unsportsmanlike foul this season—which could merit an automatic one-game suspension—in the Tamaraws’ second straight loss over the weekend.

The league automatically suspends a player who incurs two unsportsmanlike fouls, unless technical officials downgrade the infraction or grant a school’s appeal.

UAAP basketball commissioner Chito Loyzaga is expected to make an official announcement today.

Meanwhile, Ronnie Dizer, University of the Philippines’ representative to the UAAP board, confirmed yesterday the resignation of head coach Ricky Dandan.

New coach Rey Madrid, who already joined the Maroons’ practice on Sunday along with assistants Poch Juinio and Ramil Cruz, hopes to arrest the State U’s winless run starting on Wednesday against University of the East.

Dizer said Dandan will still be part of the school’s sports program as its science and technical consultant.

The Tamaraws, who still hold the top spot with a 7-2 record, will face the surging Warriors on Sunday at Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s going to be hard if we lose RR. If that happens, somebody has to step up,” said FEU coach Nash Racela whose Tamaraws are trying to regain the fine form that carried them to a seven-game sweep of the first round.

Garcia was called for an unsportsmanlike foul for throwing an elbow on La Salle’s Oda Tampus in the third period of the game the Tamaraws lost, 66-75, last Sunday.

In the first round, Garcia was also assessed  an unsportsmanlike foul for throwing the ball at University of the East’s Lordy Casajeros in the game won by the Tamaraws, 89-78.

Tough luck also hit the Lady Tamaraws as the defending champions absorbed their first loss in the women’s basketball tournament.

University of Santo Tomas (5-4) stunned the Lady Tamaraws (8-1) in a 61-58 decision over the weekend that snapped FEU’s remarkable 26-game winning streak since 2011.

Maica Cortes (20 points, 13 rebounds) and Marian Mejia (11 and 13) paced the Tigresses with Lore Rivera nailing the two charities with 12.2 seconds left to clinch the win.