Rhey Remogat Avoids Suspension Despite Ejection in UP Win
Photo: UAAP Media
UP Fighting Maroons guard Rhey Remogat will not serve a suspension despite being ejected in the fourth quarter of their win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, October 8.
Remogat was thrown out after picking up two unsportsmanlike fouls, the second coming late in the game as he tried to stop a fastbreak. Though the play looked forceful, even Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin downplayed the severity, saying he didn’t see any malicious intent in what Rhey tried to do.
Under the UAAP’s previous rules, any ejection would automatically lead to a one-game suspension. But that has no longer been the case for a while. The league now follows FIBA’s rules on unsportsmanlike conduct, where suspensions are no longer automatic and instead assessed based on the nature and category of the fouls committed.
According to a UAAP source, Remogat’s fouls fell under category 3 — defined as unnecessary contact to stop a fastbreak — which does not meet the threshold for a suspension.
“No suspension. The same with Ian Espinosa (of Ateneo, who was ejected in his team’s game against Adamson), for the DLSU game,” the source explained. “Players are not automatically suspended anymore this season, according to the rules. The UAAP suspends when the action warrants one. In this case: category 3 unsportsmanlike is not grounds for suspension.”
Under FIBA rules, there are five criteria for calling an unsportsmanlike foul. Category 3 refers specifically to unnecessary contact by a defender to stop the offensive team’s transition, provided the offensive player has not yet started the act of shooting.
Suspensions, according to the source, are usually handed out for more severe actions, such as “punching or fighting, anything with intent to hurt or excessive unsportsmanlike actions, like the dirty finger.” Multiple flagrant fouls under category 2 — which involves excessive, hard contact while trying to play the ball — may also lead to a suspension.
This policy also explains why UP’s Reyland Torres was not suspended during last season’s UAAP Finals despite a similar incident.
With this clarification, Rhey remains eligible to suit up for UP’s upcoming game against FEU on Sunday.
