Brawl to affect ‘NC’ Final 4 race

NCAA rumble between EAC and Mapua. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ

The aftermath of the bench-clearing melee between Mapua and Emilio Agui-naldo College will also affect the Final Four race in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament.

While the suspension-hit Cardinals and Generals are no longer in the Final Four hunt, they still have games against several postseason hopefuls, starting with EAC’s match with Perpetual Help today.

With nine players suspended and two others—Noube Happi and Igee King—no longer in the squad, the Generals, won’t have enough players for the duel with the Altas, who will be awarded with their 10th victory in 16 games via forfeiture. EAC’s remaining game of the season will be against another also-ran team in San Sebastian on Monday.

Suspended for their roles in the brawl were Generals John Tayongtong (five games), Jan Jamon, Ariel Aguilar, Sidney Onwubere and Jack Arquero (three games), John Santos, Manelle Quilanita and Edsel Saludo (two games) and Faustine Pascual (one game).

The win will push Perpetual Help to solo fourth, ahead of Jose Rizal U, which lost to St. Benilde, 69-71, last Wednesday.

Mapua, which also has nine players sacked including Leo Gabo (four games), will forfeit their game against the Letran on Monday.

But they will have seven players available for their Friday clash against Final Four contender Jose Rizal U.

The other match slated today pits already eliminated San Sebastian and Lyceum at 3 p.m.