"That would be a move well consider if we further see that theres an intention to declare Cardona ineligible and to declare La Salles victories forfeited. We are deeply concerned because the board declaring two years and three months as three years has no other purpose except to justify the new ruling on eligibility," said La Salle legal counsel Atty. Loy Ventura.
The board, in a meeting last Friday, voted 6-1 in amending the ineligibility rule stating that no athlete who has studied abroad for three years within the last five years will be allowed to play in the UAAP unless he or she establishes a two-year residency. Fridays vote led to a new rule that two years and three months will have to be considered three years.
"You cannot change the rules in the middle of a ballgame. And even a layman would tell you that a year is 365 days. So, how can two years and three months be considered three years? La Salle would have easily accepted that if thats the rule," Ventura added. "Weve asked the other members of the board if this is meant to declare Cardona ineligible and our games forfeited and the answer we got was no comment."
Under league rules, any protest on any players eligibility shall be presented in writing to the screening committee and the board member of the school being protested against 24 hours before the second round. No formal protest regarding the issue has been filed so far, meaning Cardonas eligibility "may no longer be questioned."
"They are simply trying to legalize something that is illegal," said Terry Capistrano, one of La Salles team managers. "And as adults, we are not setting the right tone here. All of a sudden, we are deluged with this issue. This is bad for the league and were not looking good. Let the players play."
Daniel Jose, a senior board member of La Salle, said: "It is very clear that these people want to shoot down La Salle. That if they cant accept defeat on the court, theyll bring it to the boardroom."