THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) suspended the three referees who worked the Final Four game between defending champion De La Salle and Adamson University.
The referees who called the match won by the Green Archers, 82-75, were Enan Alejo, Ian Borbe, and Mollie de Luna. They were suspended for an indefinite period.
Adamson University Head Coach Franz Pumaren openly criticized the referees and three days after the controversial semifinal match, Adamson University Athletic Director Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, wrote a complaint letter to Commissioner Atty. Rebo Saguisag.
Saguisag called for an emergency meeting with tournament director Mark Molina of Far Eastern University and Erika Dy of Ateneo last Sunday and came out with the verdict.
“While we are still in the process of evaluating the whole game together with the statistics, the officials [that] worked game were immediately suspended with two strongly recommended for being banned for the rest of the season, if only to preserve public confidence in our league,” Saguisag said.
“From the bleacher’s standpoint, and even if one does not know how a foul can be committed, it is loud and clear that the calls made by the referees were downrightly unfair and biased,” Suan said in his letter to Saguisag. “The manner the game was officiated was revolting and calls for an immediate action in order to forestall its duplication in the future.”
Pumaren told reporters after the loss that it was “the worst officiating and the referees did not give them the chance to play their game.”