BALDWIN ESCAPES SANCTION
THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) spared Ateneo Head Coach Tab Baldwin of any sanction despite his criticism on the three referees who supervised the Blue Eagles’ game against the Far Eastern University (FEU) last Thursday.
“I don’t think at this point we need to sanction him [Baldwin],” UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag told a press conference held in between games at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. “Some may consider it derogatory so it is still up for discussion.”
“What is important is that it won’t happen again. I think I’m just a libertarian,” Saguisag added. Ateneo beat FEU, 70-53, in that game to go unblemished in 13 matches, but still Baldwin took a swipe at the referees during the post-game interview.
“The three guys in grey shirts should get eye surgery like him due to the missed or bad calls during the game,” said Baldwin, referring to referees Ricor Bauron, Jaymar Talledo and Joemar Gorom.
“I’ll take care of our team. I don’t know who’s going to take care of them,” Baldwin added.
Basketball commissioner Tonichi Pujante called Baldwin’s remarks as “unnecessary and derogatory,” adding that the league” has been doing everything to improve officiating by coordinating with teams to lessen the missed or bad calls.”
“We man up and admit mistakes,” Pujante said in a statement. “It is as if I am not doing my job and for which I take offense. Allow me to counter and say that he focuses on his team task, and leave the referees to me.”
Pujante said that ridiculing the game officiating publicly “would do no good but it only casts doubt on the integrity of the league.”
“There are proper channels to air grievances and we’ve had healthy and constructive interactions with the post-game reviews with most of the teams,” the commissioner added.
Saguisag was asked if it was a warning to the former national Coach Baldwin, Saguisag said “yes,” and encouraged all coaches to address their complaints to proper channels and “not to antagonize and alienate things.”
“It’s better to address it to the respective channels because there are some mechanisms to improve things, be more productive in a sense, and we’re doing it for the longest time when I was serving as a three-year commissioner,” Saguisag said.
Baldwin shunned reacting lengthily to the issue.
“I don’t have a reaction to that. I’m in game preparation,” he said a few hours before the Blue Eagles played the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday.
FEU, meanwhile, routed University of Santo Tomas, 109-65, to secure at least a playoff berth with a 7-7 record eliminations record, while Adamson University defeated University of the East, 65-53, to complete its season with a 6-8 record.
The Red Warriors went winless in 14 games.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ACTION RETURNS THURSDAY
VOLLEYBALL coaches lessened their expectation but expressed excitement over the Season 84 women’s volleyball action that returns on Thursday without the men’s and juniors’ divisions also at the MOA.
University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University clash in the opener at 10 a.m., followed by the National University-adamson University match at 12 noon and defending champion Ateneo facing De La Salle at 4 p.m. University of the Philippines will collide with University of the East at 7 p.m.
“We are thankful for your patience. I remember when we were in a basketball press conference, we told you that we’re going to start the elimination of women’s volleyball before the basketball elimination ends,” UAAP league President Emmanuel Calanog said. “We’re very happy and excited that UAAP women’s volleyball is back.”
Only three matches were played in Season 82 prior to the lockdowns in March 2020.
“We’re excited to play again after two and a half years,” said Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro, saying they had to train in a bubble most of the time and had little time for face-toface practice.
“It’s already been two years and we’re nervous, I hope nobody gets injured,” DE La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcollo told the hybrid news conference.
“We are excited and hopefully our players will perform well,” FEU coach George Pascua said.
UST coach Kungfu Reyes said: “We’ve maximized the online training so we have a short time to prepare, but we’re excited to play.”