CESAFI basketball melee: Suspension for Abellanosa, Tagalog

The panel that investigated the bench-clearing game between the University of Cebu Webmasters against the University of San Carlos Warriors in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball game has recommended for the suspension of Allain Abellansa and Ahman James Tagalog for the rest of the season.

Also, they recommended for a three-game suspension of the three referees, who officiated fight-marred game last September 11 at the USC gym.

In a separate decision, the investigating body composed of Judge Reynoso Belarmino and lawyer Joseph "Dodong" Baduel, also recommended for the suspension for the rest of the season University of the Visayas Baby Lancers coach Delfin Pepito, Jr..

Referee Jimmy Ybañez, with whom Pepito had an altercation moments after the Baby Lancers lost to the USC Baby Warriors, 62-56 last September 8 in Minglanilla, will also serve a three-game suspension.

CESAFI president Jose R.Gullas said all recommendations by Judge Belarmino and Baduel are recommendatory and executory but all the concerned parties may still appeal to the CESAFI board for reconsideration.

The referees who officiated the fight-marred game were Godofredo Villaro, Ernesto Cane and Melvin Caumeran who are meted a three-game suspension for admitting they did not see who actually initiated the fight.

"We deplore the Pontius Pilate attitude of the referees. Not one of them in their written report and during the investigation saw anything," said lawyer Baduel in his written decision furnished to the local sports writers yesterday during the announcement at the office of Gullas in UV.

In the case of players Abellanosa and Tagalog, they are suspended for the rest of the season for involving themselves in a fight.

In the CESAFI rule of conduct, intimidating, threatening or intentionally inflicting bodily harm to another constitutes unsportsmanlike behavior and its penalties, depending on how severe the offense, include fire, suspension or banning from the tournament

The fact-finding body found Tagalog guiltier than Abellanosa as supported by the photos, but the retaliation by Abellanosa to Tagalog helped provoke the fight.

In the case of Pepito, he is suspended for the rest of the season for allegedly trying to hit referee Ybañez.

Pepito gracefully accepted the decision in order to protect the integrity of UV. In fact, Pepito even withdrew his letter requesting for reconsideration.