Sharma suspended; Lipa reprimanded

Ateneo coach Joe Lipa was severely reprimanded by the UAAP competitions committee yesterday while La Salle cager Carlo Sharma was slapped a one-game suspension heading into Thursday’s Game 2 of the explosive and exciting best-of-three title series at the Araneta Coliseum.

The temperamental Ateneo mentor drew the ire of the UAAP body for airing before the media his disgust over officiating during the series opener won by the Archers, 74-68, last Thursday at the packed Big Dome.

Lipa complained about a couple of non-calls, which to him cost the Eagles the game.

The Ateneo mentor, Lipa, who was suspended one game for hurling a chair to the court during an Ateneo-Adamson match last Aug. 30, claimed that Sharma, a 6-foot-6 rookie with La Salle, committed a punching foul against Rich Alvarez in the third quarter but was ignored by the referees. The two players were later warned for trash talking.

A review of the game tape by the committee members and Asian Basketball Academy officials led by Chot Reyes yesterday morning showed that Sharma indeed committed a punching foul on the Ateneo forward late in the third period. The La Salle slotman went on to score six of his 10 points in the final quarter — all of them crucial.

"I just hope that the officials will give me a fair shake. I also hope that ABA officials will be fair enough and consistent that any punch thrown should merit a suspension. We will not put the game under protest… we just want to show our disgust with the officiating," Lipa told a couple of mediamen in a post-game interview four days ago.

Ateneo’s Enrico Alvarez was also reprimanded yesterday for a second-motion on La Salle’s Manny Ramos in the third quarter of the series opener. Earlier this season, Villanueva was reprimanded for elbowing Dennis Miranda of FEU, and was suspended one game for a punching foul on Steve Rolan of Adamson.

Because of the suspension, Villanueva was automatically booted out of the race for the coveted MVP plum despite leading the statistical points race. With Villanueva out of the picture, Alvarez moved on top, followed by Froilan Baguion of NU, Mark Cardona of La Salle, James Yap of UE and Ryzal Castro of FEU. La Salle’s Ren Ren Ritualo is in 12th.