Arellano withdraws protest on controversial loss to JRU

JRU guard Paolo Pontejos goes for a shot against Arellano’s Zach Nicholls. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Arellano University will no longer continue to protest its double overtime loss to Jose Rizal University on Thursday in the second round of the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tournament.

Peter Cayco, Arellano’s representative to the Management Committee, said the decision came upon the request of school president Francisco Cayco.

“I was ordered by my president not to put the game under protest in the spirit of sportsmanship and in the interest of the NCAA,” said Cayco on Saturday. “Jose Rizal had nothing to do with the errors of game officials.”

The Chiefs’ 114-112 loss ended in controversial fashion after the game officials failed to downgrade a 3-pointer by the Bombers’ Tey Teodoro sooner that wouldn’t have forced Arellano’s Jio Jalalon to commit an intentional foul.

Instead, the Chiefs at that time had no choice but to foul knowing they were down by a point resulting to Gio Lasquety making the game-winning free throws to give the Bombers their sixth win.

ManCom chair Melchor Divina of Mapua lauded Arellano’s move.

“We commend Arellano for its decision. This is for the good of the league,” said Divina.