The Board of Directors of the NOPSSCEA supported yesterday the stand of its Committee on Sports that the venue of all final games in men’s basketball will be played at the West Negros University Gym.

In an emergency meeting attended by five of the 15 members of the Board, the NOPSSCEA took up the concerns raised by the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos against one of its players, the officiating, and venue of the best-of-three final series between UNO-R Rams and WNU Mustangs.

In a letter drafted by Committee on Sports chairman Anthony Carlo Agustin and noted by president Dr. Gereon Cabarles, the NOPSSCEA said it has decided to allow UNO-R player Jade Paul Calma to play in the remainder of the championship series “provided he will play with utmost decency and fair play.”

Earlier, tournament commissioner Renato Bravo informed UNO-R’s sports moderator Ericson Rios that Calma will not be allowed to play on Game 2 after he incurred two unsportsmanlike fouls.

On the issue of officiating, the NOPSSCEA Board said it will be the referees’ commissioner to decide whoever will be fielded and that it is the duty of the RC to see to it that the game will be officiated in the spirit of fair play.

In response to Fr. Louie Gabinete’s letter requesting for a neutral ground, the Board cited that the venue is still at WNU Gym on Wednesday, at 5 p.m. as agreed upon during the coaches’ meeting in July at WNU Sports Office in the presence of the tournament manager and (Felipe) Bat-og.”

Bat-og, the designated referees’ commissioner, is the provincial referees’ coordinator of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, with Agustin as SBP provincial director. Agustin is also the sports director of the WNU and the tournament manager of the NOPSSCEA basketball.

Meanwhile, UNO-R Rams head coach Rolando Aledron insisted that he did not waive his rights to a homecourt in the championship series despite the unavailability of the UNO-R Gym.

“During our meeting, I said we will play anywhere if nobody will offer us a homecourt. It was agreed that in the finals there will be two home games for the No. 1 team and an away game for the opposing team,” Aledron said.

He said the Rams will wait for the decision of the UNO-R administrators if they will play in the remaining final games or not.

Meanwhile, Agustin asserted that Aledron waived UNO-R’s rights to a homecourt and he had the document bearing Aledron’s signature to prove it.

Should the Rams fail to show up in today’s Game 2, Agustin said it will be an automatic forfeiture of the game.

The WNU Mustangs leads in the best-of-three series after a one-point win Sunday night against the Rams, 78-77.

This year’s victory in the NOPSSCEA will give the team its 14th straight title and the fourth crown for head coach Troy Sarabia.*NAB

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