THE NCAA Management Committee defended its decision to suspend Lyceum star for Game One of the Season 94 Finals against San Beda, saying it was merely enforcing a long-standing league rule.
Perez was handed the suspension after he applied for the PBA Rookie Draft on Oct. 29 without informing the Mancomm in writing in clear violation of a league rule, said NCAA Mancomm chair Frank Gusi of Perpetual.
“In this case, Perez only informed NCAA of his application days after he submitted the same to PBA, and after the same was already the subject of numerous news reports," Gusi said in a statement.
“Finally, it should be stressed that the NCAA’s action on this incident was made after carefully considering the best interest of the league and the student athletes. It is in accordance with existing NCAA rules and its ultimately intended to promote the spirit of sportsmanship and discipline in the league.”
According to a source, Lyceum wasn’t informed by Perez or his manager, Marvin Espiritu, about the plans to enter the draft. Pirates officials, according to this source, would have taken the initiative to inform the NCAA themselves.
“LPU was not informed. LPU would have taken the initiative to make a letter to be signed by CJ and endorsed by the Mancomm rep to inform the NCAA,” said the source.
Perez is the third player in league history to get a suspension for violating the said rule, after former San Beda star Yousef Al Jamal in 2007 and Leo Najorda of San Sebastian in 2005.
However, it emerged that Al Jamal never served the three-game suspension handed him as San Beda managed to secure a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the league ruling.
At posting time, the Pirates have yet to issue a statement.
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