UE’s Santos, Ateneo’s Leal Hit With One-Game Suspensions
University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University will each be without a player in their next UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball games after the Commissioner’s Office handed one-game suspensions to the Red Warriors’ John Dexter Santos and the Blue Eagles’ Jay-M Leal.
Santos will sit out UE’s game against De La Salle University on Wednesday, October 21, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Leal will miss Ateneo’s matchup with Far Eastern University on Saturday, October 24, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Santos Ejected After Replay Review
Santos’ suspension comes from a disqualifying foul in UE’s game against the University of the Philippines.
With 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, players were jostling for a rebound after a shot attempt. Santos hit the back of Fighting Maroon Dikachi Udodo’s head with his right forearm, then struck Udodo’s face with the same arm.
Referees first called it an unsportsmanlike foul. They upgraded it to a disqualifying foul after an Instant Replay System review.
Leal Reaches Two Unsportsmanlike Fouls
Leal’s suspension came through accumulation. He now has two unsportsmanlike fouls this season.
The second came in Ateneo’s October 17 game against the University of Santo Tomas, and the referees did not call it. With 23 seconds left in the second quarter, while both players fought for rebounding position, Leal swung his left elbow sideways with force toward the neck and chest of Growling Tiger Ice Danting.
The Commissioner’s Office reviewed the play after the game. UAAP House Rules and FIBA regulations let the office sanction serious misconduct even when officials miss it during play.
Leal’s first unsportsmanlike foul came on October 10 against FEU. At the 1:07 mark of the fourth quarter, he swung his right hand down toward the face and shoulder of Tamaraw Rojan Montemayor as Montemayor drove to the basket, with no real attempt to play the ball. Officials first called a personal foul, then quickly upgraded it to unsportsmanlike.
That means Leal will serve his suspension against the same FEU team involved in his first infraction.
