PRECIOUS Momowei will miss University of the East’s next game against Ateneo on Wednesday as his suspension has been upheld by the UAAP.
The Commissioner’s Office deliberated on the school’s appeal following the Njgerian ace’s ejection in UE’s 76-67 win over University of Santo Tomas on Saturday.
Momowei was whistled for two unsportsmanlike fouls in that game: first for an inadvertent elbow on Mo Tounkara in a rebound play early in the second quarter; and later on, his strong drive left Gelo Crisostomo with a cut on his right eyelash. In both instances, the Growling Tigers big men were left bloodied.
That second call spelled the end of the night for the 6-foot-9 banger as he was sent back to the dugout with 5:13 to play.
He did apologize to UST after the game while hoping that the league, led by commissioner Xavy Nunag, will hear his cause.
However, the UAAP ultimately decided to stick with the penalty, with sources clarifying that in unsportsmanlike fouls, intent is never considered but solely on the action undertaken.
It’s the second straight year that Momowei has been handed a one-game ban, and curiously, he will serve it anew in a game against the Blue Eagles.
That’s going to be a tough blow for a Red Warriors team which is in the midst of a three-game losing skid at 6-6 and are desperately clinging on to their hopes of ending a 15-year Final Four drought.
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