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UAAP Board: No forfeiture, but Perasol suspended again

(UPDATED) Ateneo gets off the hook, but Coach Bo Perasol still won't be around.

In a meeting to discuss University of the East's request for a clarification of the rules regarding team members serving suspensions, the UAAP Board decided against forfeiting the Blue Eagles' 77-72 win over UE last September 8.

Perasol was seen at the Mall of Asia before and after the match, in violation of a league rule prohibiting suspended coaches from being at the venue while they serving their suspicion. The penalty for violating this rule, according the rulebook, is forfeiture.

The following day, UE wrote a letter to the Board seeking clarification of the rule while pointing out Perasol's presence at the game.

However, the Board decided that since Perasol was at the venue, then his suspension did not take effect, and thus he will have to sit out Ateneo's next game.

“Coach Bo was in the game venue [MOA Arena] when he was supposed to be serving his suspension, that is why the board decided that he should be serving the penalty,” said Season 76 secretary treasurer Malou Isip of host Adamson University.

Thus, the Blue Eagles, who are currently in fifth place, will keep their 7-6 record entering their final game of the elimination round against UST on September 18. The Tigers (7-5) play third-running La Salle (9-4) on Saturday.

But like a good soldier, Perasol said he is ready to follow the order from the UAAP Board.

Several hours after the Board ordered him to re-serve a one-game suspension that will force him to miss the Blue Eagles’ crucial match next week, Perasol said he is accepting his fate.
 
“I am not in a position to defend myself or whether I think the decision is right or wrong. However, whatever it is, I will abide by it,” he stated in a text message to Yahoo! Philippines.

The Blue Eagles defeated the Growling Tigers 61-57 in their initial meeting last July 27 and Perasol sounded confident his charges can repeat the trick.

“My team will fight for that Final Four spot, with or without me at the helm,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Board was not as forgiving with the FEU Lady Tamaraws, who had to forfeit five won games after one of their players, Vangie Soriano, was found to have played in a commercial league during the season.

The Lady Tamaraws, who had been tied for first with National University with identical 12-2 records, thus fell to 7-7 and are not yet assured of a Final Four slot with fifth-running University of the Philippines (6-7) lurking just half-a-game behind.