Warriors chieftains in big trouble

James Yap and Paul Artadi will have to find better ways trying to live up to their billing as UE’s one-two punch. Drawing warnings and technicals for unsportsmanlike behavior definitely won’t help.

Yap, probably the hottest shooter in the UAAP today, drew a warning for slamming the ball on the head of La Salle rookie Joseph Casio while Artadi, probably the quickest point-guard in the league, was slapped a technical for apparently throwing at punch on La Salle sophomore Ty Tang last Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum.

League commissioner Joe Lipa yesterday said he withnessed both incidents and told The STAR he will have to review the tape this morning before he decides whether or not there’s any action to take.

"Then I will talk to these two players (Yap and Artadi) and the referees as well," said Lipa, who’s expected to issue a warning on the players that a repetition of such behavior will be dealt with accordingly.

The Archers relied on their vaunted trapping defense to win the game, leading by as many as 27 points en route to an 84-65 win and a 3-0 record in a tie with FEU.

The Warriors oozed with frustration, like when Yap, pinned by Casio and was about to step on the sideline in the second half, slammed the ball on the head of the former San Beda Red Cub.

The UE hotshot was merely warned by the referee and the Warriors kept the ball after it went out of bounds.

"It should have been an automatic technical. Malinaw na sa ulo niya binato si Casio. Puwede naman sana sa katawan pero kitang-kita na binaon niya sa ulo ang bola. Halos lumipat nga yung tatak na Molten sa ulo ni Casio," said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren yesterday.

Artadi, for his part, apparently threw a punch on Tang in the final two minutes. He drew a technical foul and was subsequently pulled out of the game by coach Boyzie Zamar.

"Si Artadi naman, sumuntok daw kay Ty Tang pero hindi lang nga tumama," added Pumaren.

La Salle team manager Terry Capistrano said La Salle is not planning to file a formal complaint but said a warning coming from the commissioner would "sound good."

"They (Warriors) played rugged. And there’s a difference between being rough and being rugged. But boys will be boys. Siguro gusto lang sabihin ni Yap kay Casio na ‘welcome to the UAAP,’" Capistrano said.