A UNIVERSITY of Baguio Cardinal faces a lifetime ban following unsportsman like conduct during a semi - finals game in the men’s basketball of the Baguio – Benguet Educational Athletic League.
In a document obtained by Sun*Star Baguio, Samuel Ian Seña of UB is being recommended to be banned from playing in the collegiate league for instigating violence, punching several players including the coaching staff of Baguio College of Technology, a referee and attempting to punch the game commissioner.
The recommendation was rendered Monday night, according to a BBEAL insider, following the free for all in the final 3.4 seconds of the semis match –up between defending champion Cardinals and the Atoms when Seña, while positioning for a rebound during a free throw, backhanded Kram Domingo causing the forward to writhe on the floor.
A melee erupted with most UB bench pouring down on the BCT side. Game officials, and referees, were recipient of blows, including game commissioner Antonio Fernandez who ducked a punch allegedly thrown at him by a seemingly berserk Seña.
The video was caught on a smartphone by the audience which was later uploaded on social media and has since went viral.
It was one of the best games in the BBEAL, after BCT poured in a 16 point lead before UB, showing the hearts of the champion that has been the benchmark of local college cage, clawed their way back temporarily seize the lead on a Seña twinner with 30 seconds remaining and after Renzae Cosme drained a trey for the equalizer.
The BBEAL recommended another UB player, Adriane Puzon, to be suspended for one season for entering the playing court and attacking several players from BCT and adding more tension to the situation.
BBEAL’s technical committee also recommended the suspension for one game the rest of the Cardinals bench except for Ismael Khan Muhammad, Cosme and John Erick Victorio.
Due to the suspension of almost all UB players as a result of the bench clearing, Cordillera Career Development College automatically wins third place.
BCT president Willy Antonio meanwhile lauded the swift action of BBEAL technical committee against the erring players.
u201cWe are contented with the recommendation and it just brings order to the league. We hope this kind of unsportsmanlike conduct will not happen again,” Antonio told Sun*Star Baguio.
It was also learned the assistant coach of the Atoms, George Cablarda Ong, is set to file a case against Seña for mauling after sustaining injuries during the attack.
UB however has yet to issue their statement on the decision of the BBEAL.
The recommendation signed by game commissioner Antonio Fernandez, basketball tournament manager Jojo Estebar, and head of officiating officials Noel Rullan will still be voted by members of the executive committee of the league before the judgment becomes final. (Roderick Osis)
