Perasol plans ban appeal, cites ‘critical stage’

Calling the punishment excessive, University of the Philippines coach Bo Perasol will appeal his three-game suspension slapped by the UAAP, which took into account his “continuous flagrant acts of aggression” toward a game official in the Fighting Maroons’ 89-63 loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday.

Perasol’s ejection merited an automatic one-game ban as part of tournament guidelines, but commissioner Jensen Ilagan handed an additional two-game ban for the UP mentor’s action toward referee Jaime Rivano even after being restrained repeatedly by his players.

“After thorough review and careful deliberation made by the technical committee, we deemed it fit that the penalty of [a] three-game suspension [be] handed to coach Bo Perasol for his actions,” said Ilagan in a statement.

“Do acknowledge that similar actions of the same grain shall be dealt with similar penalties.”

Perasol, whose Maroons are in second spot with a 5-2 record, said appealing the decision is the “most rational action to do” as the tournament is already in a critical stretch.

“I’ve already said my piece about regretting what I did,” said Perasol in a message to the Inquirer. “A three-game suspension for an ejection is just too much. More importantly, because the tournament is in its critical stage going into the second round. That’s practically half of the second round.”

Perasol has yet to submit his appeal or motion for reconsideration to Ilagan as of press time. UAAP rules state that the appeal should also be signed by the school’s board member.

A source said Ilagan—not the UAAP Board—would still have the final decision on Perasol’s appeal as part of the regulations that had been implemented by the league a few years ago.

“It is only in extraordinary cases when the Board of Trustees made up of school presidents can step in, but that is the rule right now—tournament commissioners make decisions on game-related incidents,” said the source.