NCAA sacks 8 cagers for bench-clearing fight

Eight players, four each from Mapua and St. Benilde, were suspended by the NCAA management committee for their involvement in an ugly bench-clearing incident that marred the Blazers’ 64-60 victory at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum last Wednesday.

Mapua’s Jeffrey Martin took the heaviest penalty, being suspended three games for punching St. Benilde’s Paolo Ortega with 38 seconds left in the third quarter. Mapua officials claimed Martin only retaliated after being elbowed by Ortega.

Ortega, his teammate Alvin Magpayo and another Cardinal, Joeferson Gonzales, were suspended one game each for their direct involvement in the fight. They were all ejected in the game which was halted for about 20 minutes.

Also suspended one game each for taking a fighting stance as shown in the television replay were Mapua’s Raymund Dula and Nat Cruz, and St. Benilde’s Jed Evangelista and Julius Te. The suspensions will take effect Monday when the two teams face different opponents.

Meanwhile, Philippine Christian University outsteadied Jose Rizal College, 85-77, to gain a share of second place with Letran and San Sebastian at 2-1. JRU slipped into a tie with Mapua and Perpetual Help with its second loss in three games.

The Stags, who won last year’s title over the Heavy Bombers, whipped the Red Lions, 92-70, in the second seniors game yesterday. The loss was the third straight for San Beda.