Letran’s Brent Paraiso. –NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Letran was left confused following the ejection and possible suspension of key players Brent Paraiso and Louie Sangalang.
Both players were thrown out of the game late in the Knights’ 67-62 win over Mapua in the NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday. League house rules state that a player ejected from a game due to technical fouls will be suspended in the next game.
Paraiso, meanwhile, was ejected due to an “act of violence” on Adrian Nocum, which was only called after a review because no whistle was called–something which did not sit right with him.
“I didn’t do anything. That’s just how basketball is,” said Paraiso in Filipino. “Not everything is an act of violence…But that’s just how the referee called it, we can’t change it anymore.
“He was already laying down. Fran (Yu) already took a shot, I already got the board and attempted again. Then I got fouled, but they reviewed the one [Nocum] who was laying down,” he explained.
“I don’t know which planet that call came from. Even in the NBA or the PBA, you can’t see someone being called for something that belatedly. ”
Midway of the fourth quarter, Paraiso was on his way down from a loose ball play when his arm hit Nocum’s head. No whistle was called.
Play resumed for two more possessions until a referee’s review found Nocum falling down, which bamboozled the Knights including head coach Bonnie Tan.
“We are coaches, but there are organizers and commissioners. I don’t know if they can review what happened. I don’t know, I’m not sure,” Tan said.
“Maybe they are right but we’ll just follow their decision. It’s sad, because it was a loose ball and they already called it,” he added.
LOOK: After Letran lost Brent Paraiso a few minutes ago due to a disqualifying foul, fellow Knight Pao Javillonar is also brought to the locker room due to bad landing in his right foot. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/lN7hjcGECk
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 27, 2022
Under the new Fiba rules, which the NCAA follows, as long as there is an “act of violence” in the playing court, whistle or no whistle, will warrant an automatic disqualifying foul.
Paraiso was thrown out of the game with 5:28 remaining in the game.
Sangalang, meanwhile, tallied two technicals—both from taunting–leading to his ejection.
Both Letran veterans are expected to sit out its game against San Beda on Friday.