University of the Philippines has protested its close loss to Ateneo last Wednesday in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.
In a letter by Atty. Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero, team manager of the UP men’s basketball team, addressed to UAAP executive director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag, UP urged the UAAP to take action against what it deemed “deplorable” calls made by “incompetent” referees during the Fighting Maroons’ 87-79 defeat to the Blue Eagles.
“We write to officially protest and implore action against what transpired during the University of the Philippines vs Ateneo de Manila University game last Wednesday, September 12, 2018. We are not writing because we lost,” the letter dated September 14 read.
“The UAAP must do something about this not because we lost. Losing is part of the game. But unfairness and bad officiating is certainly not. Nobody wins when bad calls or non-calls by game officials are not rectified and are allowed to continue.”
UP cited a game between Adamson and La Salle in last year’s Final Four as an example where the Falcons protested “unfair and biased” calls that led to the UAAP suspending the referees who officiated the duel.
During that game, La Salle was awarded 39 free throw attempts to Adamson’s five.
Uvero said UP’s game against Ateneo was a “recurrence” after the Fighting Maroons only shot seven free throws as compared to the Blue Eagles’ 31.
UP also slammed the “unfair” officiating after no whistle was blown on Bright Akhuetie’s dunk attempt against Ateneo’s William Navarro in the fourth quarter that drew the ire of Maroons head coach Bo Perasol and got tossed.
The school felt Navarro committed “an extremely dangerous foul” against Akhuetie.
UP is also asking the UAAP “to review the officiating done during the game and thereafter, suspend the referees thereon” and reconsider the one-game suspension given to Perasol following his ejection.