PCU cager faked papers, probe bares

The NCAA yesterday identified one member of the Philippine Christian U high school basketball team for his involvement in the "identity switching" scandal that recently rocked the country’s oldest collegiate league.

St. Benilde’s Henry Atayde, who chairs the two fact-finding committees formed last week to look into PCU’s alleged irregularities, said Jaypee Importante was the player they found to have reportedly switched birth certificates with a cousin in Cebu to be able to play for the school.

"It’s been confirmed, he’s not who he claims he is," Atayde said.

Atayde added he has already informed PCU board representative Alfredo Olano about their findings and they have given the school time to answer the charge.

"We’re giving PCU until April 10 to come up with a position paper," Atayde said. "It’s now up to them to make their move and maybe clean their own backyard."

Olano, for his part, said he is still awaiting the results of PCU’s separate inquiry on the case.

"We’ll wait until we have completed our own review," said Olano, who also took part in the Management Committee’s three-day planning session that concluded yesterday in Binangonan, Rizal.

Atayde said a possible forfeiture of their games could be slapped on the Baby Dolphins, who made it to the finals but lost to the San Sebastian Staglets in Season 82. – Joey Villar