NCAA cracks whip on Letran members, ref in JRU game

MANILA, Philippines – The NCAA sacked a coach, a player and a referee, warned four other players and will ban a fan for the season for their unsportsmanlike acts during and after Jose Rizal's 69-60 victory over Letran in a Season 90 game last Monday at The Arena in San Juan City.

League commissioner Arturo "Bai" Cristobal said in a statement Monday he has suspended Letran mentor Caloy Garcia for a game for getting tossed out due to two technical fouls late in regulation and Letran co-captain Mark Cruz for verbally abusing referee Ian Borbe right after the heated contest.

Five Knights, among them co-skipper Kevin Racalm, Jamil Gabawan, Rey Publico and Rey Nambatac, were also sternly warned for violation of the league rule preventing players or coaches to approach officials inside the 30-minute cooling off period.

Borbe, for his part, was sacked for three games after he admitted he used profane language and will have to undergo evaluation before he could officiate again.

Worse, he will also serve a three-game suspension in the UAAP where the same set of referees are being used in the NCAA.

Cristobal also recommended to Management Committee chairman Paul Supan to ban the still unidentified Letran fan who threw a crumpled paper on Borbe when he was about to go the commissioner's office for the rest of the season.

"These are NCAA house rules concerning sanctions to coaches and players displaying unsportsmanlike conduct by provocative gesture meant to ignite a brawl or a fight, so we're just following rules," said Cristobal.

"Our referee will be suspended in both the NCAA and UAAP and will be re-evaluated upon his return.

"As for the fan who threw a piece of debris on my referee, he we will be automatically denied entry the rest of the tournament as per NCAA house rules again. We're just in the process of identifying him," he added.

Letran is reportedly appealing the decision.

Garcia accused Borbe of being biased against them as well as threatening to punch Cruz during the commotion.

It will be the third time Cristobal has cracked the whip on erring players and coaches after suspending San Beda's Kyle Pascual and a high school player last week.