San Beda’s Season 89 bid in peril as guard accused of playing in another tourney

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda may end up as one and done.

The top-seeded Lions are in danger of forfeiting all their Season 89 NCAA games if an allegation that their guard, Ryusei Koga, violated a league rule of playing in a tournament during the season is true.

"There were talks that he played somewhere in Paranaque," a source privy to the league board, who was referring to the sweet-shooting Koga, told The STAR Sunday.

"It should be verified because the league rule states that it if indeed he played there during the season, San Beda games where he played from the time he committed the violation shall be forfeited," the same source added.

San Beda athletic director Ato Badolato neither confirmed nor denied if allegations on Koga, who didn't suit up in San Beda's 78-62 rout of Arellano U Saturday at The Arena in San Juan City, are correct.

"Still investigating," Badolato said.

The league Management Committee, however, has yet to officially sit on and discuss the issue and no official complaint has been lodged yet so the possibility of the Koga accusation may not prosper.

The only chance of the matter being taken in the Mancom's Tuesday board meeting is if someone raised it up for discussion.

"Not all the Mancom members have knowledge about it but there are five board members who are already aware of the issue," said the source. "The Mancom will meet on Tuesday but it’s not in the agenda."

"If someone raised it, it may be discussed," he added.

San Beda sits atop of everyone for the eight straight seasons after emerging with the best record of 15-3 (win-loss), a full game ahead of Letran (14-4), Perpetual Help (11-7) and San Sebastian (11-7).

A forfeiture though could send the Lions, who have made the finals a whopping eight straight years winning seven championships, crashing out of the Final Four for the first time in a long while.