Though the NCAA Management Committee (Mancom) has sanctioned three players and one coach and his staff for various offenses, one more player in Mapua’s Jofferson Gonzales drew infraction in their game versus Letran Friday night and now faces possible suspension.
Commissioner Ricky Palou recommended to the league Mancom a one-game suspension for Gonzales for punching Jonathan Aldave on the ribs in their game won by the Cardinals, 62-60.
Palou also wanted another Cardinal Erwin Sta. Maria to be reprimanded for a flagrant foul on Mark Andaya.
Palou’s recommendation is likely to be approved by the Mancom in an emergency meeting today where it is also to discuss the controversial legal move of Letran in another player-suspension case.
Thus, Gonzales may miss their game against St. Benilde on Wednesday.
The recommendation came two days after Letran filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) seeking to recall the suspension on its forward Frederick Rodriguez, a move countered by the league with a motion for reconsideration.
It was the first time in the NCAA’s 80-year existence that a team resorted to court action in disputing a Mancom decision. The move drew flak from the basketball community.
Will Letran be sanctioned for it? "We’ll know when we meet tomorrow (today)," a board representative told The STAR in a text message.
Rodriguez, a vital cog in the Knights’ championship run last season, was suspended for elbowing Perpetual Help’s Dean Apor in their game on Aug. 13. Apor was also suspended as he retaliated by punching Rodriguez on the face.
Another Letran cager – Ronjay Enrile – had served a suspension earlier after he spat at Perpetual Help’s Don Javier. Others earlier suspended were Altas coach Arturo "Bai" Cristobal and an assistant.
Meanwhile San Sebastian, Perpetual Help, Philippine Christian and Jose Rizal play at the resumption of on-court action at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum today.
The Stags and the Dolphins collide at 4 p.m. while the Altas tackle the Jose Rizal Bombers at 1 p.m.
San Sebastian, PCU and Perpetual Help are bunched with defending champion Letran at the helm with similar 7-4 win-loss records. Jose Rizal is already out of the fight for the Final Four with a 4-7 slate.