Ateneo import Ikeh spends night in jail for domestic violence

MANILA, Philippines -- Ateneo player Chibueze Ikeh is still under police custody following his arrest on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum right after the Blue Eagles defeated the UP Fighting Maroons, 74-65, for their fourth straight win to clinch a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 78 men's basketball.

In an earlier report, Quezon City Police District special operations unit head Superintendent Jay Agcaoili confirmed that Ikeh was arrested for violating Republic Act 9262, a law penalizing violence against women and their children. 

READ: Ateneo player nabbed for domestic violence

On Thursday morning, Maj. Rodel Marcelo, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit in Camp Karingal, was quoted telling Sports journalist Kristina Maralit that Ikeh is still under custody. 

Ikeh spent the night at the QCPD criminal investigation and detection unit’s detention facility and will stay until the P24,000 bail is posted. 

Ateneo Athletics Director Emmanuel Fernandez told sportswriters who witnessed the arrest on Wednesday night that "it's just a private matter and has nothing to do with Ateneo basketball and the UAAP". Witnesses saw Ikeh and an unidentified woman rode an unmarked Starex van with the policemen that went straight to Camp Karingal. 

Ikeh has reportedly been dating a certain Sophia Estrella and it is not clear whether she was the unidentified woman, who was with him during his arrest. 

Ikeh's arrest is just one of the off-court issues that has marred the Eagles' UAAP campaign this season. 

After a rough start in the first round, some quarters in the Ateneo Alumni asked for their head coach Bo Perasol to step down.  While Perasol dodged the bullet, he said, at the beginning of the second round, that it's going to be his final season with the school. 

A week after that,  Ikeh's teammate John Apacible was suspended for the remainder of the second round after his drunk road rage video went viral on the internet.  He has since apologized. 

The Eagles are still fighting for a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four and will face arch-rival De La Salle Green Archers in a crucial match on Sunday.