17 players, 3 refs suspended for EAC-Mapua brawl

MANILA, Philippines – The NCAA cracked the whip on a total of 17 players while suspending the three referees who officiated the Emilio Aguinaldo-Mapua 90th NCAA basketball game that resulted into an ugly free-for-all at The Arena in San Juan City Monday.

EAC's John Tayongtong and Mapua's Leo Gabo received the severest punishment for triggering the melee as the NCAA recommended Tuesday a five- and four-game suspension, respectively.

"The Mancom condemns in the highest level the unfortunate incident that occured in the Mapua-EAC game," NCAA Management Committee chair Paul Supan said in a statement after Tuesday's three-hour meeting at the Aloha Hotel in Manila.

"Hooliganism has no place in an established league like the NCAA. Proper sanctions based on league rules will be imposed accordingly," he added.

League commissioner Bai Cristobal, for his part, fined and suspended indefinitely game officials Molly de Luna, Menard Ballecer and Cholo Caoile for failing to control the non-bearing game.

Mapua's Jomari Tubiano received a three-game suspension while teammates Justin Serrano, James Galoso, Exeqiel Biteng and Andrew Estrella got two-game suspensions.

Jerome Canaynay, Ronneol Villsenor and Darrel Magsigay were suspended for a game.

Other EAC players who were suspended were Jan Jamon, Ariel Aguilar, Jack Arquero for three games; John Santos, Manelle Quilanita and Edsel Saludo for two games; and Faustine Pascual for a game.

Spared of suspensions were Mapua's Jessie Saitanan, Jeson Cantos, Andrew Eriobu and CJ Isit and EAC's Jozhua General, Jerald Serrano, Christ Mejos and Ai Indin.

The suspensions will be implemented the next game so there's a chance that EAC and Mapua will forfeit their games against Perpetual Help on Friday and Letran on Monday, respectively.