UAAP official submits report

After a weeklong investigation on La Salle’s protest of its controversial game against Ateneo last week, UAAP commissioner Ed Cordero last night submitted his recommendation to the league’s technical committee which in turn will make its deliberations on the case.

But Cordero didn’t give details as to what his recommendation was, whether or not the league would uphold the protest, since the technical committee, headed by Kiko Diaz of University of the Phils., will still have to meet and decide on the issue.

“We apologize for this matter taking quite a long time, because we want to see everything that needs to be seen,” said Cordero in an official statement. “We want to be able to come up with the fairest decision possible, one which both sides will find acceptable.”

As this developed, the UAAP board, chaired by Fr. Ermito de Sagon, OP, of host Santo Tomas, set an emergency meeting at 2 p.m. today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, apparently to tackle the issue.

“There’s going to be a meeting by the board at 2 p.m. tomorrow (today),” a source told The STAR.

La Salle lost to Ateneo, 77-80, in overtime last Thursday. But the Archers claimed the Eagles had fielded in two foreign players – American Kirk Long and Australian Zion Laterre – at the same time in one stretch in the second period in a clear violation of the league rule, which prohibits a team to use two foreign players at the same time.

Meanwhile, University of the East tries to extend its amazing run to six as it takes on Far Eastern U at resumption of action in the 70th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

In the other game, Adamson faces State U in a duel between winless teams.