NCAA asks teams to sanction coaches

The NCAA Management Committee (Mancom) yesterday spared St. Benilde and Mapua any suspension but issued a stern warning while directing both teams to discipline their respective coaches in the aftermath of their controversial match ending in a forfeiture victory for the Blazers Monday.

"The committee issued stern warning on all parties involved. But with regards to sanctioning the coaches of both teams, that would be up to their school heads," said Mancom chairman Fr. Bede Hechanova, O.S.B., of San Beda.

After a marathon meeting that lasted over six hours Tuesday night, the Mancom ruled that coaches Horacio Lim of Mapua and Dong Vergeire of St. Benilde committed misconduct and should be given sanction.

Hechanova said the Mancom has issued separate letters to the presidents of the two schools directing them to discipline their respective coaches for their misconduct in the controversy.

Lim allegedly instigated Mapua’s walkout while Vergeire reportedly grabbed the microphone on the officials’ table during the commotion and gave unflattering remarks.

Hechanova said they’re still studying what sanction to slap on Mapua’s Jeff Martin for his involvement in controversy. Martin, out for the rest of the tournament because of a serious knee injury, stormed onto the court with teammate Edsel Feliciano and St. Benilde’s Al Magpayo figuring in a heated verbal tussle. Martin had already been suspended for three games for punching St. Benilde’s Paolo Orbeta in their first-round duel. A reliable source said he may be banned.

Meanwhile, St. Benilde followed up its forfeiture win over Mapua with an 85-78 whipping of San Beda at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum yesterday.

Sunday Salvacion had another sterling performance with five triples and a total of 25 points, leading the Blazers to the victory that assured their entry into the Final Four.