La Salle files leave of absence

With a possible suspension looming large in the horizon, La Salle jumped the gun on the UAAP as it filed a leave of absence from the league’s men’s basketball competition this coming Season 69.

La Salle submitted the letter last Jan. 23, informing UAAP board chair Fr. Max Rendon, C.M. of Adamson of its decision to take a one-year leave of absence from the basketball competition in the aftermath of the eligibility scam.

A source said the letter, reportedly signed by La Salle executive vice president Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, was received "very recently" by Fr. Rendon.

The Adamson official, however, has refused to comment on the issue although he said La Salle’s move would be discussed in the next UAAP board meeting set later this month.

The same source added that Fr. Rendon isn’t keen on calling for an emergency board meeting to tackle the latest La Salle action since the investigation by the UAAP ad-hoc committee on the La Salle eligibility scandal is still ongoing.

"It’s not possible," a source told The STAR. "But the investigation is being rushed now because we don’t want this (issue) to spill over the next host, which is University of the East."

There were reports that the UAAP board is inclined to evaluate La Salle’s basketball program first and possibly comment on the school’s policies and admission rules, particularly in basketball to prevent the scandal, that also rocked the league, from happening again.

Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P. of Santo Tomas, chairs the five-man committee tasked to probe the eligibility scam. The other members are Adamson’s Ric Matibag, Far Eastern U’s Josie de Leon, National U’s Arlene Royo and league counsel Rene Ma. Villa.

The board met last week but didn’t tackle anything that concerned the ongoing investigation. Only taken up in the January meeting were the league rules, transactions and other matters concerning the staging of the UAAP competitions for the second semester.

There were earlier reports that La Salle has deferred its plan to submit the letter asking the board to allow the Taft-based school to take a one-year leave in the next UAAP season since the issue was not in the agenda.

Observers, however, doubt the UAAP board will act in favor of La Salle’s request since under league rules, basketball and volleyball are mandatory sports for one school to be able to participate in the collegiate league.

La Salle got into trouble when it admitted to have unwittingly fielded in two players with spurious admission documents — Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian — during the 2004-2005 seasons.

A number of school officials, led by varsity coach Franz Pumaren, resigned late last year to give the management a free hand to institute reforms and changes.

Suspension is one possible sanction awaiting La Salle, the same penalty slapped on Adamson in 1994 when it allowed Marlou Aquino to play despite his academic deficiencies.

The San Marcelino-based school was suspended not only in basketball but all sports.