Verdict on La Salle out March 30

The UAAP board will convene next week where it is expected to finally rule on the eligibility scandal involving two La Salle players that had dragged on for months.

A source said the UAAP board has sent school representatives a letter calling for a meeting on March 30 where a decision on the recommendation of the ad hoc fact-finding committee is likely to be made.

"It may be on March 30. They (UAAP board) already informed the board members about it," said the source. "Although they didn’t mention the agenda, it seems that they are asking board members to free their schedule on that day."

UAAP board chair Fr. Max Rendon, CM, of Adamson has promised to come up with the verdict before the month ends after the completion of the investigation being conducted by the ad hoc committee.

Rendon stressed that the UAAP board will come up with a fair and just decision based on the findings of the five-man committee headed by Fr. Ermito de Sagon, OP, of Santo Tomas.

The same source said a one-year suspension looms for La Salle, which admitted last November that it unwittingly fielded in two ineligible players during the 2004-2005 UAAP seasons.

Adamson was also suspended in 1994 for fielding in Marlou Aquino despite academic deficiencies.

However, La Salle has hinted it might elevate the case to the court if it is suspended although a board insider said the school is not keen on resorting to such move.

"There are some quarters goading La Salle but I don’t think they will do that because it would really be detrimental to the league," said the source. "I know they will abide by whatever decision the UAAP board will make."

Top La Salle officials have already discussed possible actions it would take once the UAAP verdict is made.

La Salle decided not to file a leave of absence in all sports and instead reiterated its desire to take a leave of absence only in basketball.

A few days later, Malou Caluma, the school’s head of the Marketing and Communications Office, came out with a retraction and clarified that La Salle will only issue a statement after the UAAP board comes up with a final decision.

"DLSU will wait for the UAAP to conclude its investigation after which, DLSU will decide on the next course of action," La Salle said in a statement.