A year of suspension for the University of the East or a life-time ban for its basketball team are among the sanctions being considered by the University Games officials after the Red Warriors forfeited the championship game against National University at the St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

UniGames president Roger Banzuela said what UE did was not only a disrespect to the tournament but also to the people of Bacolod City who packed the different venues, especially the basketball gyms, during the weeklong competition.

While they are still waiting for a letter of apology from UE, he said the Board of Directors of the UniGames will meet to decide on what sanction to impose against UE.

“Definitely there will be a sanction. Either the entire school will be suspended for a year from participating in the UniGames, or a lifetime ban on its basketball team,” Banzuela said.

After defeating the Ateneo De Manila University, 68-65, in the semifinals, UE team officials informed the organizers that they will not be able to play in the championship the next day as they have to leave Bacolod City to play in another tournament in Taiwan.

“Apparently, they (UE) they were not expecting to make it to the finals. But they should have informed us earlier and not a day before the championship match. They should not have played in the semifinals,” Banzuela said.

All throughout the tournament, he said UE did not inform the organizers of their commitment in Taiwan, the UniGames president said, adding that some adjustments could have been made if only the Red Warriors notified them about their plans.

Instead of the scheduled final game, NU Bulldogs played an exhibition game against the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Ateneo.

The organizers also stripped UE of any medal in men’s basketball and instead awarded the silver to Ateneo after the team beat Adamson in the battle for third place. Adamson was declared bronze medalist.

“It was a big gesture on the part of UST so as not to disappoint the crowd. We doff our hats to the entire Tigers team for trying to save the situation,” Banzuela said.

Aside from the possible gold or silver in men’s basketball, UE also won the gold in women’s badminton after prevailing over host USLS in the finals.

He said the staging of the 17th Sandugo University Games in Bacolod City drew the biggest crowd in the history of the tournament.

In addition to the favorable feedback they received, he said athletes and coaches from the different delegations asked the organizers to hold the games again in Bacolod City next year.*NAB

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