CHICAGO — There was a time when UST women’s basketball assistant coach Arsenio Dysangco and NU deputy Paul Du were really good friends.
As high school teammates in 1989, they helped UNO bag the MTTLBL title.
After their paths forked in college, the friendship faded into indifference and dissent, before ultimately blowing up in violence last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
READ UAAP’s season ban on Paul Du a 'misjudgment,' says Dioceldo Sy
At the handshake line following UST’s 90-66 demolition of the Lady Bulldogs, Du, according to the league, sent Dysangco crashing to the floor with a 'forceful elbow.'
Before the UST-NU tiff even began, several witnesses including another Growling Tigresses assistant allegedly saw Du stick a middle finger at Dysangco and goading him to a fight.
NO CLUE.
“I just don’t know why he is angry at me. Hindi na kami nagkakamay. He would stare me down. Iwas na lang ako.” Dysangco told me on Tuesday night.
Attempts to reach coach Du and get his side of this reporting were unsuccessful.
Dysangco is a registered nurse who worked at UST hospital in 2013 before leaving the medical field to return to coaching.
After Du’s elbow strike, Dysangco, upon the urging of head coach Haydee Ong and Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP (Director and Regent of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics), returned to UST hospital as a patient.
CRIMINAL CHARGES?
After a battery of tests that lasted at least eight hours, Dysangco was diagnosed with “elevated levels of CK-MB” which is a sign of “cardiac muscle damage.”
The lab results and doctors’ findings provide evidentiary proof to substantiate an assault charge.
But Dysangco wants to make it clear he doesn’t want to file a criminal complaint. Not only that, he hopes his former teammate doesn’t lose his job over this act of aggression.
At age 56, coach Dysangco only wants happiness and positive vibes. He has no time and energy to waste on anger and resentment.
Because he has already won in the game of life.
His daughter, Alyana Sofia, is a CPA pursuing a law degree, while his son, Andre Paolo, is a civil engineer.
Happily married to Pia Lu, a former DLSU and national player, coach Dysangco is a good man, a sheep in Tiger’s clothing who’s willing to turn the other cheek.
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