Najorda, Turo face suspension

The NCAA Management Committee is expected to slap a one-game suspension on San Sebastian’s Leo Najorda for his disqualification foul on Perpetual Help’s Rommel Balboa during their NCAA men’s basketball match won by the Stags in overtime, 76-75, last Monday.

League commissioner Joe Lipa and the Mancom chaired by Fr. Vic Calvo of host Letran College will meet today to discuss the case and decide whether or not to suspend Najorda, the 2003 NCAA MVP.

Also to be tackled is San Sebastian coach Arturo "Turo" Valenzona’s fate. The volatile mentor was also ejected in that game.

"We’ll meet with the NCAA Mancom to discuss these matters," Lipa said, "the suspension will depend on the gravity of the offense."

In frustration with the way the Stags were getting clobbered by the Altas that saw them trail by as many as 16 points in one stretch, Najorda hit Balboa hard in the chest as they jockeyed for position during SSC’s offensive play midway in the third quarter. The referees deemed it was a flagrant out.

Valenzona, who steered the Recoletos-based school to six NCAA titles in the 90s, followed Najorda to the locker room a few seconds later after incurring a second technical foul.

Their ejection, however, proved to be a blessing in disguise as the Stags used that as the rallying point to frustrate the Altas and snatch the thrilling win in overtime.

Meanwhile, the Stags still hope to play with Najorda, a vital cog in Welcoat Paints’ 2005 PBL Unity Cup title reign, with Valenzona at the helm when they take on the lowly Jose Rizal Bombers, winless in six outings, at the Astrodome today.