UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help is now expected to boost its Final Four bid in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, without breaking a sweat.
The Altas are set to register their 10th victory in 16 games with ease and claim solo fourth spot as opponent Emilio Aguinaldo College is unfortunately set to forfeit the match scheduled Friday for being unable to field at least five players.
Altas assistant coach Lester del Rosario will heave a sigh of relief once the forfeiture becomes official.
“Kung forfeited na talaga, advantage na rin sa amin kasi mahirap din kalaban ang EAC eh,” Del Rosario, son of head coach Aric, told Spin.ph. “Lalo na ngayon na may gusto silang patunayan.”
With nine suspended players and two missing cagers in Cedric Happi Noube and Igee King, the Generals have only four players available — Jerald Serrano, Christ Mejos, Ai Indin, and Jozhua General.
[See Ugly bench-clearing incident mars NCAA game between EAC Generals, Mapua Cardinals]
John Tayongtong, Jan Jamon, Ariel Aguilar, Jack Arquero, Sidney Onwubere, John Santos, Manelle Quilanita, Edsel Saludo, and Faustine Pascual were all punished for their roles in the ugly bench-clearing incident that marred their match against Mapua last Monday.
“They are facing possible forfeiture if they cannot come up with five players to start the game,” Management committee chairman Paul Supan said of the Generals, whose players and management are also involved in an internal dispute.
The no-bearing match between eliminated squads Lyceum and San Sebastian will push through at 3 p.m.
[See Players and referees suspended as NCAA condemns ‘hooligans’]
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