Reyland Torres during Game 2 of the UAAP men’s Basketball Finals between UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Reyland Torres will be available for the University of the Philippines’ winner-take-all Game 3 game against La Salle in the Finals of UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The league announced on Thursday that Torres won’t be suspended in Game 3 despite his ejection in the Fighting Maroons’ 76-75 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball Finals
Torres committed two unsportsmanlike fouls, receiving his first after he hit EJ Gollena with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Torres was ejected after his attempt to stop CJ Austria’s fastbreak with 2:58 left in the game.
“The first unsportsmanlike foul occurred with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter, when Torres committed a UF category 2 (excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent) on EJ Gollena.” the UAAP basketball commissioner’s office wrote.
“The second unsportsmanlike foul happened with 2:58 left in the game, when Torres attempted to stop a fast break (UF category 4 – illegal contact caused by the player from behind or laterally on an opponent who is progressing toward the basket, with no other defenders between the player and the basket).”
READ: UAAP: Reyland Torres, UP Maroons moving on from controversy
Adamson’s Jhon Calisay had the same case when he was ejected in their final elimination round game against Ateneo but remained eligible to play in their playoff game against University of the East.
UP will be relieved to have Torres, who is averaging 4.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in the series.