No replay of DLSU-Adamson game amid controversy, says UAAP

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

UAAP commissioner Rebo Saguisag said there will be no replay of the controversial Final Four duel between De La Salle and Adamson at this point.

As it stands, the result remains with the Green Archers taking an 82-75 win over the Soaring Falcons.

“At the moment, again without prejudice to further findings, I don’t think offhand that the mistakes at all were that blatant to warrant a reversal or a replay,” he said in an interview with Sports Desk.

READ: UAAP suspends referees in La Salle-Adamson Final Four clash

“If it involves judgment calls, that’s not a criteria for protest. They should be technical in nature, like misappreciation of the rules, misapplication of the mechanics. But if it’s judgment calls, it’s a different story. That would not warrant a reversal or a replay.”

Saguisag shared that though his office has received complaints before, this was the first time that the losing team wasn’t the first to raise the issue.

“For the first time in three years, it was a first that aside from the losing team which you expect the complaint from, there are some sectors who checked what happened. So of course, I cannot be insensitive to the public cause at the end of the day, they are the audience. We have to address the outcry,” he said.

Saguisag has suspended the three referees Enan Alejo, Ian Borbe, and Mollie de Luna, who officiated the game for the duration of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.

“It was our decision. I used the word suspension, but to be clear, suspension can be a form of penalty or a preventive measure. In this case, since our findings are still provisional, so that we can avoid any conflicts, we’ll take the three of them out of the referees pool and they get to have a chance to clear their name if warranted,” he said.