UP appeals coach’s suspension

MANILA, Philippines – UP on Wednesday appealed the two-game suspension slapped on Maroons head coach Rey Madrid for his comments after their game against UST last Saturday.

In a letter to UAAP commissioner Andy Jao, UP representative to the UAAP Board Ronaldo Dizer claimed the sanction on Madrid is too harsh.

"Though I believe that his statement is uncalled for, I would like to appeal for your understanding, compassion and leniency on the sanction upon Mr. Madrid. The sanction is on my opinion maybe too harsh, considering that this incident was Mr. Madrid's first sanction," Dizer wrote

Madrid was suspended after accusing a referee of point-shaving in the Maroon’s 57-73 loss to the Tigers last Saturday, Aug. 2, that featured a 20-0 UST run in the fourth quarter.

Dizer also called out the media’s coverage of Madrid’s reaction.

"It is unfortunate that the press got to him first, which resulted into an expression of dissatisfaction of a certain referee's performance under a highly emotional state," added Dizer.

Madrid already served the first of his two-game suspension in UP’s 53-74 loss to DLSU Wednesday, its sixth in as many games.