ATENEO has asked the UAAP to review an incident in the game against De La Salle on Sunday where Green Archers big man allegedly punched the Blue Eagles' Fonzo Gotladera.
According to a person familiar with the situation who asked not to be named, Ateneo has filed a complaint with the Commissioner's Office alleging that Van Opstal punched Gotladera at the back of the head during a rebound play in the first quarter of the game on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
No foul was called on the play, but the Spin.ph source said the 'punching incident' can be clearly seen in television footages of the match which the Blue Eagles won, 97-86.
Interestingly, Van Opstal and Gotladera used to be teammates at La Salle before the latter moved to Ateneo.
Gotladera, who spent a year of residency at Ateneo after getting his release from La Salle, got the better of Van Opstal in their Sunday match-up, scoring 17 points to go with eight rebounds while making half of his 10 free throws when the Archers time and again deliberately sent him to the line in the endgame.
The Ateneo transferee later said he didn't hold any personal grudge against his former team and teammates, treating the La Salle match as "just another game."
In contrast, Van Opstal went scoreless in the first half against Gotladera. He finished with 10 points.
The defending champions Green Archers take on National University on Wednesday in a bid to snap out of a 0-2 (win-loss) funk to start their campaign.
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