4/28/2006 - UAAP defends ban, will meet La Salle to clarify decision

The clarification, according to UAAP spokesman Anton Montinola of Far Eastern University, could come in the form of a dialogue.

"We are willing to explain," said Montinola after the UAAP board meeting at the Casino Español that again lasted more than five hours yesterday. La Salle’s Danny Jose attended the meeting but voluntarily left when the La Salle issue was tackled.

Montinola said La Salle only sought for clarification with the UAAP as regards the decision that bars the Taft-based school from competing in all sports in Season 69 which begins in July.

The UAAP, Montinola explained, also quashed allegations it did not exercise due process during the conduct of the seven-month investigation of the UAAP fact-finding committee that delved into the fake Philippine Educational Placement and Testing Certificates of Rating (PEPTCR) results of Green Archers Mark Lester Benitez and Timoteo Gatchalian III.

"The investigation lasted all of seven months and dozens of personalities, including many from  La Salle from school officials to team management and coaching staff of the Green Archers were interviewed," said Montinola.

 La Salle’s top academic officials told a press conference they called Thursday that they were not accorded due process prior to the imposition of the one-year suspension. The suspension actually has its precedent in Adamson University, which was found guilty of fielding ineligible men’s basketball players in 1994. Adamson also served out a year’s suspension.

As to speculations that ABS-CBN, the broadcast partner of the UAAP which rakes in millions of revenues for the league, Montinola said the UAAP has no choice but to bite the bullet.

"Both [UAAP and ABS-CBN] are disappointed," he said, "all parties are. But that’s life."

The UAAP and ABS-CBN acknowledged the loss in terms of millions of pesos in marketing and advertising because of the absence of the Ateneo- La Salle men’s basketball rivalry.

"But ABS-CBN has been acting properly about this episode," said Montinola, quashing speculations on an ABS-CBN/marketing factor that could see the UAAP reversing its decision on De La Salle. "ABS-CBN readily agrees its an internal UAAP problem and they’re not interfering."

As a result of the La Salle experience, Montinola said that the UAAP board has agreed to put in effect an amendment on its rules and regulations that covers the PEPTC results. Beginning next season, the UAAP will impose a one-year residency for athletes presenting a PEPTC certificate in lieu of a high school diploma.

"That way, the member university will have enough time to authenticate the PEPTC certificate, which, it turned out, has become subject to abuse," said Montinola, who added the UAAP was told PEPTC certificates do not contain security marks that could stress their authenticity.

Montinola reiterated the UAAP board’s decision on the suspension was based on league rules and regulations which dwelled primarily on the requirement that it is mandatory for a member university to maintain basketball and volleyball teams to be able to participate in the league.