WHAT could have been a lackluster matchup became a game that is one for the books. There has been a lot of stories of coaches walking out or players walking out.
But on Thursday, September 14, in the game between the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the University of Cebu (UC), the officiating officials walked out.
The USPF Panthers lost for the second time to the UC Webmasters in the college division of the 2017 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
It could have been an easy win for the Webmasters but it turned out to be a controversial game when the Cesafi official “walked out” on the Panthers with still 1:17 left in the final period, with UC comfortably ahead 81-55.
The reason: USPF has no more eligible players on field after the officials charged them with a bench clearing for entering the court without permission in an earlier scuffle.
But technically, USPF still has four players left who were playing at the time of the stoppage. The fifth was Roy Quiachon who was ejected for his aggressive stance towards the referee who was the subject of the heat of the Panthers squad.
The table officials, however, did not give the name of the referee, whom the Panthers allegedly has been targeting especially in their three crucial losses.
The trouble started when Clyde Avanceña issued a wayward pass to Lyndon Colina, both of USPF, at the sideline.
The pass almost hit the referee, who managed to duck before the ball side the side railings.
However, the referee approached Avanceña and allegedly warned him for that errant pass.
“Iya (referee) ko giingnan, imo tong gituyo ha. Hapit ko maigo, bantay lang ka sa gawas (He said that I did it on purpose, that he was almost hit by the ball and that I have to watch out when we get outside),” Avanceña told reporters.
Quiachon who was near the action tried to pacify Avanceña, who tried to run after the referee.
“Iya man hinoon ko gi-ingnan nga sumbagay ta. Siya pa naghulga-hulga siya pa nanghagit (He asked me for fist fight, he was the one who threatened me for a fight),” Quiachon added.
This prompted some of the players and coaching staff to enter the court in an attempt to harm the same referee.
There were two police officers who tried to pacify the angry Panthers.
The police, including the three other USPF players inside the court managed to calm down the situation that resulted to the ejection of Quiachon.
However, after he sank the two technical free throws, UC coach Yayoy Alcoseba complained that the entire bench should be ejected since there was clear bench clearing.
After a few minutes of huddle, the technical committee decided to declare the bench clearing.
But while USPF bench was waiting for explanation, the officials suddenly walked away without saying another word leaving the USPF wondering what happened while UC slowly exited.
That officially gave UC the victory while USPF’s hope to win a semifinal seat.
In the high school game, the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers managed to survive a tough game to move a win away from a season sweep following a scary 64-61 win over the Cebu Eastern College Dragons. (RCM)
USPF Panthers vs UC Webmasters Game: First Half
USPF Panthers vs UC Webmasters Game: Second Half
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