Bo Perasol issues apology

UAAP reviewing incident

MANILA, Philippines — The University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is set to further review Sunday’s incident involving UP coach Bo Perasol to determine if added sanctions, aside from the court ejection and an automatic one-game suspension, need to be imposed on the emotional bench tactician.

UAAP Commissioner Jensen Ilagan said the league is collecting materials on the incident, which marred the match between last year’s finalists, UP and Ateneo, at the end of the first round. The league will issue a verdict after the review.

With UP trailing, 47-35, at the 6:23 mark of the third period, Perasol stormed onto the court and charged at a game official after what he felt was a non-call on Ateneo’s Angelo Kouame, who tried to block a shot by Jerson Prado.

Perasol was seen taking a fighting stance while shouting expletives on the referee before cooler heads pacified him. The veteran mentor was tossed out of the game. Then the Eagles broke free to take a lopsided 89-63 win.

Perasol is set to receive an automatic one-game suspension according to UAAP house rules due to his ejection.

“Obviously, there are house rules saying that there will be a sanction of one-game suspension (due to ejection). With that, we need to review the whole video again if there were other actions that transpired. We’re now requesting the materials to be given to us in order to review the entire incident.” said Ilagan.

“We’ll try to serve the memo of suspension as soon as we can. They have 48 hours to appeal so hopefully, everything will be ironed out before the next game.”

Ilagan said there’s no need to summon Perasol as UP will have a chance to appeal once the memo of his one-game suspension has been served. The UAAP will hear the appeal before making a final decision.

Perasol, for his part, apologized for his actions.

 “I apologize, first for my team, for losing it (temper). It really does not matter what happens on the court, but I have to think about my composure because that is what I preach and I was the one who lost it,” he said.

“It’s not about him, it’s not about me, it is about the game. We should be partners – players, coaches and officials – and maintain the beauty of the game,” he added, referring to Bright Akhuetie’s consecutive fouls and technical foul even before the perceived non-call on Prado.