UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas star center Karim Abdul has been spared a ban for his unsportsmanlike foul on Bobby Ray Parks in the Final Four on Saturday, allowing the Tigers to play at full strength in Game One of the UAAP basketball finals against Ateneo this weekend.
UAAP basketball commissioner Ato Badolato made the decision on the premise that there was no intention to hurt on the part of the 6-5 Cameroonian center when he fouled National University star Parks as he went for a layup, causing the league MVP to crash to the floor.
Had Badolato established that the Abdul foul was "meant to hurt," league rules would have called for an automatic one-game suspension.
Abdul, who finished second to Parks in the MVP race and earned a berth in the league's Mythical Team, had already incurred an unsportsmanlike foul during the Tigers’ final game of the eliminations against University of the East.
“No suspension,” said Badolato in a text message.
Abdul averaged 16.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals a game during the elimination round for the Tigers, who captured the second spot with a 10-4 win-loss record.
The Cameroonian had 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Tigers’ 63-57 semifinal win over National University.
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