UNIVERSITY of the East will appeal to downgrade the two-game suspension slapped on Ralf Olivares before the UAAP technical committee.
Coach Boycie Zamar said he will file the appeal anytime on Monday as the Red Warriors are facing all-important games in the weeks to come.
The Warriors are outside looking in with the Final Four race heating up as they are currently in sixth place with an even 5-5 win-loss slate. However, the absence of another scoring option in Olivares will be crucial for the school's next two outings against La Salle on Wednesday and Ateneo on Sunday.
“Siyempre crucial ‘yung mga games. Sana tignan din naman nila ‘yung spirit of competition,” said Zamar.
There is a possibility the suspension could be downgraded by the UAAP technical committee, based on its previous decision on Lord Casajeros last week.
Casajeros was also slapped with a two-game ban following two unsportsmanlike fouls incurred in UE’s game against Far Eastern University last August 25, but the UAAP technical committee deemed that a one-game suspension is enough.
Commissioner Chito Loyzaga slapped Olivares with a two-game suspension following his third unsportsmanlike foul in Saturday’s game against National University.
The Commissioner’s Office said Olivares was caught stepping on the stomach of NU’s Nico Javelona in the second quarter that should have merited an unsportsmanlike foul.
Olivares was also called for an unsportsmanlike foul after an elbow to the face of Robin Rono in the third quarter of the same game.
The UE stalwart, who was already warned for his first unsportsmanlike foul last July 30, was also caught banging his body on NU’s Jeff Javillonar while on the UE bench, which led to a technical foul against the team.
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