UAAP bans Salgado for life

La Salle assistant team manager Manny Salgado, who struck Far Eastern’s Arwind Santos in the head after Game One of the best-of-three title series last Thursday, was slapped a lifetime ban by the UAAP board yesterday.

After due deliberation and with all members present, the board headed by Fr. Maximo Rendon of host Adamson unanimously decided on the stiffest penalty ever imposed on a team official.

"By a unanimous vote of all the members qualified to vote in accordance with its rules, (we) decided to perpetually ban Mr. Manny Salgado from personally watching all UAAP sports competitions in all the venues thereof.

"This decision shall take effect immediately. The UAAP deemed the actuations of Mr. Salgado as unacceptable and detrimental to its interest and reputation and that to the public in general," the board said.

The UAAP decision only adds up to the pain of La Salle’s defeat.

In full view of the jampacked crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, Salgado, a former commissioner of the Games and Amusements Board, threw a closed fist at the back of Santos’ head after the final buzzer.

The Tamaraws won the game, 75-73, behind the heroics of Santos, the reigning MVP who scored five points in the last 49 seconds. He was having some words with counterpart Joseph Yeo at centercourt when Salgado stepped in.

After hitting Santos, Salgado ran for safety as the FEU star forward threatened to retaliate. FEU head coach Bert Flores had to be restrained as he tried to get his hands on Salgado.

Even those rooting for La Salle were stunned with Salgado’s misbehavior, which was uncalled for even though there was some provocation on the part of Santos or anyone else from FEU.

As a team official, Salgado has bigger responsibilities than the players, especially during such instances.

Salgado issued an apology during an early-morning TV show while La Salle board representatives Danny Jose and Lito Tanjuatco brought a written apology to the UAAP board.

It said La Salle "will not condone the acts of Mr. Salgado, and that they will accept whatever the decision of the UAAP board is."

The board said: "It condemns in the strongest term possible the actuations and conduct of Mr. Salgado. The UAAP stands firm and steadfast in its commitment to hold various sports competitions in the highest standards of excellence and spirit of sportsmanship that it is known for to the UAAP community, its athletes, supporters and the general public."

"I already made a public apology and explained my side. It was really uncalled for, unacceptable," Salgado told The STAR in a phone interview.

FEU manager Anton Montinola, for his part, said it was an unfortunate incident at the end of a classic game. We will focus on Game 2."

"I’m also making efforts to reach some officials of FEU and make amends," said Salgado.

Salgado said he lost his temper after Santos uttered some foul words. "I was there to pacify them, there was too much thrash talking. I was trying to break them up but he ( Santos) said something I didn’t like and I lost my cool,"" he recalled.

If possible, Salgado said he wants to apologize to Santos himself. — With report from Joey Villar