By: Aulyn Gwen Bergado
The Letran Knights showed the CSB Blazers how it plays and doesn't play games at Game 1 of the NCAA Season 98 Finals. Photo courtesy of Yvonne Altaire Solon of The LANCE.
INTRAMUROS, MANILA - Letran big man Pao Javillonar has been the center of forums after his controversial move against College of Saint Benilde Blazers forward Will Gozum, and when asked about his statement about this, “no comment” was his only response.
The NCAA Management Committee on Friday afternoon formally released a statement on the matter, saying that Javillonar has been strongly reprimanded due to his “unsportsmanlike behavior” after “touching the private part of Gozum, in violation of applicable rules under the NCAA Manual of Operations on making provocative gestures; using foul gestures, and taunting and making fun of another player or person,”.
In addition, the other half of Letran’s Brusko Brothers was “required to issue an apology and render community service as a rehabilitative measure”, and that a “repetition or commission of a similar offense will merit a stricter penalty”.
Aside from this, Kyle Tolentino, other than Kobe Monje’s automatic suspension after a disqualifying foul during the first game of the series, will also be serving a one-game suspension after the guard “occupied the landing spot of Mr. Oczon (Migs Oczon) resulting to an injury”.
On the other hand, Knights’ rookie Kevin Santos said that they are going to have several adjustments before their close-out game against Benilde on Sunday. “Defense lang. Locate ‘yung mga shooters nila, Yung mga box out, rebounds”, he adds.
Santos also adds that the suspensions will make their defensive rotations very challenging as the three-peat-seeking Knights look to end the series on December 11, 3 PM, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“Kung nabawasan kami ng dalawa, mas mahirap para sa amin ‘yun kasi chamionship”. the Pampanga native concludes.