Tuesday, October 30, 2007 WNC appeals Unigames ban on Mustang By Henry C. Villalva
WEST Negros College has sent a letter of appeal to the Philippine National University Games (Unigames) chairman of the 2007 games through Unigames 2007 tournament manager for basketball Marilou Lozada appealing the suspension of WNC Mustang Jason Melarin.
Melarin was one of several players suspended from seeing action in subsequent games of the Mustangs in the just concluded 12th edition of the UNIGAMES for figuring in a brawl during the Mustangs' elimination round game against the St. Francis of Assisi Doves held last Friday, October 26, at the Natalio G. Velez Gym in Silay City.
In the letter of appeal signed by WNC chairman of the Committee on Sports Management and Development Office Anthony Carlo Agustin dated October 27, 2007 a copy of which was obtained by SunStar Bacolod, Agustin contended that banning Melarin from further joining the Unigames is "unfair and too much."
Agustin likewise lamented the fact that they were informed of the suspension at 9 p.m. of Friday, October 26, fourteen hours before the Mustangs' scheduled semi-final game against the eventual champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws. He also pointed out in the letter that the suspension order was only served prior to their semis game.
Agustin, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Western Visayas regional director, further reiterated that "we believe in the values of sportsmanship, camaraderie, teamwork and honesty that the Unigames is promoting that is why we do not condone the fighting that happened at the NGV Gym."
Also in the said letter Agustin lamented the fact that some of their players were unable to control their temper because of the physical nature of the game, although he also said they believe that "St. Francis of Assisi should also be made accountable for the conduct of their players."
Both SFAC and WNC are former Unigames titlists but the Mustangs went on to finish third this year behind champion FEU and runner-up Ateneo de Manila University after they defeated Angeles University Foundation in the battle for third.
WNC became the first Visayan squad to nail the Unigames men's basketball crown in 2005 and followed the feat in 2006 by becoming the first team from Western Visayas to capture the BAP National Students (Inter-Collegiate) Championship title in Legazpi City.
Two of the mainstays of that champion WNC squad are now members of the ADMU and FEU squads that clashed for this year's Unigames crown- Siverino Baclao of Ateneo and Sanny Abaring of FEU.
