UE’s Abanto suspended for unsportsmanlike foul

THE university Athletic Association of the Philippines (uAAP) slapped university of the East’s (uE) Nick Abanto a one-game suspension for his unsportsmanlike foul during his team’s game against Ateneo last Sunday.

Abanto was not called for any infraction by the referees when he swung his arm and hit Ateneo’s William Navarro in a rebound battle with four minutes into the match that the Blue Eagles won, 84-50.

But after a review of the game, commissioner for basketball Jensen Ilagan slapped the penalty on Abanto, who will miss the Red Warriors’ game against the Far Eastern university Tamaraws on Sunday.

“upon multiple reviews of the incident, we saw that there was intent by Mr. Abanto to hit Mr. Navarro that causing him to fall and eventually be carried off the playing court,” Ilagan said. “The action was unprovoked and his intention to hurt was apparent. Therefore, an unsportsmanlike foul shall be assessed against him.”

According to article 4.3 of the uAAP Basketball Rules, “The Commissioner has the power to impose additional penalties. This power may be exercised to non-calls but involve abhorrent acts in nature including, but not limited to, flagrant unsportsmanlike fouls, and conduct that involves dangerous and dirty tactics and supported by the official video.”

university of the Philippines, meanwhile, tries to tighten its hold of second spot against

National university (Nu) while other Final Four contenders jockey for position at the resumption of the men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

Last season’s runners-up Fighting Maroons try to improve their 7-4 won-lost record and close in on the No. 2 spots in the semifinals that grant the remaining twice-to-beat advantage when they battle the also-ran Bulldogs (2-9) in the 10:30 a.m. curtain-raiser.

A win by the Diliman-based team will also assure them of at least a playoff for a semifinal berth.

Also looking to bolster its bid for the second seed is No. 3 university of Santo Tomas (7-5) which takes on No. 5 De La Salle (5-6) at 4 p.m.