Sanctions await Bo Perasol for UP-Ateneo outburst

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) head coach Bo Perasol will be handed a one-game suspension and other possible sanctions for his unsportsmanlike actions in the Fighting Maroons’ lopsided 63-89 loss to defending champion Ateneo De Manila University in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Perasol charged at referee Jaime Rivano Jr.--apparently having a fighting stance while hurling choice words--at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter, with his Maroons trailing the Blue Eagles, 35-47.

The fiery mentor was first assessed with a technical foul before getting slapped with a disqualifying foul, resulting in his ejection in front of nearly 20,000 fans watching the first match between Ateneo and UP since last year’s finals.

“Obviously, there’s our house rule of a one-game suspension (for ejection). We need to review the whole video again if there are other actions that happened,” explained UAAP basketball commissioner Jensen Ilagan.

Ilagan also said that they will hand out the decision as soon as possible for Perasol and the UP management to make an appeal before making a final resolution.

After the highly-emotional game, a calm Perasol apologized for “losing it” but maintained his stand on the calls made by the referee.

“I apologize, first to my team, for losing it. It really doesn’t 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,” said Perasol, whose team sank to 5-2 but remained at No. 2 at the end of the first round.

Perasol put emphasis on the technical foul—and also the fourth— on reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie, seconds before his emotions got the better of him.

Perasol will serve his automatic suspension in UP’s game against Far Eastern University on Sunday, October 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA