UAAP puts officiating issue to rest

MANILA, Philippines — The Commissioner’s Office of the UAAP is keen on getting past the recent flurry of comments and statements on officiating in the league, after Adamson head coach Nash Racela questioned the refereeing in recent ball games.

Racela, who had qualms on how the game was called when they faced the Ateneo Blue Eagles last November 12, where his Falcons were called for 25 fouls, turning into 31 free throws for the Katipunan-based squad.

After the game, the UAAP issued a warning for the Adamson coach’s statements, but didn’t hand him any suspensions or fines. This was because Racela had written an apology to the league.

But Racela continued to stir the pot, posting his whole response to the UAAP’s letter. The whole fiasco also drew the ire of Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.

When all has been said and done, UAAP Acting Commissioner Atty. Mariana Lopa said that they are now shifting their focus to what’s ahead and deem the whole brouhaha over and done with.

“Regarding what has been said in the media, we of course, we heard it and you guys already know we took action on that. We had sent the appropriate letters, we got the responses, and they responded as well. You guys have been in the loop about that,” said Lopa. 

“I don't think we need to discuss it further. And as far as we're concerned, we're moving forward from statements like that.”

Lopa is taking over as Acting Commissioner after Xavier Nunag took a leave of absence owing to his wife’s sensitive pregnancy.

As there are rules in place though, the former Ateneo women’s basketball team player said that things should flow seamlessly for their office as Nunag takes his time off.

“I think the one thing about the Commissioner's Office is that the steps and the mechanisms were always in place, though we didn't expect this to happen,” she said.

“It's always good to have a contingency. So being an office or an Office of the Commissioner is no longer just one person on the post. It's business as usual. And as far as the Commissioner's Office is concerned. There will be no interruption of our work.”