UAAP: UE players pay tribute with taped jerseys

University of the East players on Wednesday made the gesture of putting masking tape on their jerseys with 'Battad' written on it as a show of support to their university president, who resigned from his post as president of the UAAP Board of Trustees.

UE on Wednesday announced that its president Dr. Zosimo Battad was resigning from his post as the president of the UAAP Board of Trustees.

The UAAP Board of Trustees, composed of the member school’s presidents, is the league’s highest policy-making group. The Board of Managing Directors, meanwhile, handles the operations of the league along with the UAAP executive director.

As of writing, no official reason had been announced for Battad’s resignation.

UE head coach Jack Santiago, however, shared how things unfolded for them on the morning of their game against Ateneo de Manila University, which they had to play without the suspended Precious Momowei.

"We all know naman 'yang naging problema natin not only sa issue ni Coach Nash [Racela of Adamson University], but 'yung issue dito kay Momowei, we got the suspension letter late afternoon yesterday," Santiago said after their 80-74 loss to Ateneo.

"When our president learned about that, nag-request siya this morning ng emergency meeting with the UAAP Board. Because we submitted video clips not only doon kay Momowei but also doon sa video clips ng other games na parang for us parang di naman ganun kabigat 'yung violation ni Momowei during the last game against La Salle."

("We all know the problems, not only with the issue of Coach Nash, but the issue with Momowei, we got the supension letter late afternoon yesterday... When our president learned about that, he requested this morning an emergency meeting with the UAAP Board. Because we submitted video clips of Momowei but also clips of other games to show that Momowei's violation against La Salle wasn't that heavy.")

Momowei was suspended by the league for committing his second unsportsmanlike foul of the season during his team's second round matchup against De La Salle University. He was called for his first unsportsmanlike foul back in October 15 during their game against Adamson University.

"We showed them the video na may contact. May foul talaga pero parang to give him a mabigat na penalty na magco-cause ng suspension niya, unfair doon sa bata because he’s leading the Rookie of the Year [race]. Nakita naman natin sa video na he was reaching for the ball, nangyayari talaga 'yun may mga instances naman with [UP's Malick] Diouf na talagang naka-closed fist siya with the NU game pero 'di ganun kabigat yung penalty niya," he added.

("We showed them the video of the contact. There was really a foul but to give him a heavy penalty that would cause a suspension, it's unfair to the kid because he's leading the Rookie of the Year race. We saw in the video he was reaching for the ball, and it happens. There were instances with Diouf that he had a closed fist with the NU game but he didn't get as heavy a penalty.")

Santiago also shared that it was his players who initiated the gesture to write on the tapes.

"Nagkaroon ata ng meeting this morning and 'yung request ng president regarding doon na pag-aralan muna 'yung penalty, na-turn down and I heard na nag-resign siya as president ng UAAP Board. When the players learned about that during our pregame talk sa dugout, all of a sudden nakita ko na lang 'yung mga players that they’re putting a tape, akala ko nga with Precious nakita ko rin yung pangalan ni presidente," the UE coach shared.

"We support the decision of the school president. I just want to take this opportunity to thank the supporters, the school community, for not giving up para sa mga bata kasi talagang unfair para sa mga bata, but of course at the end of the day, we still have a committee na nagde-decide. Hopefully, this will be a learning experience for us coming next season."

("There was a meeting this morning and the request of our president asking to review the penalty was turned down, and I heard that he resigned as president of the UAAP Board. When the players learned about that during our pregame talk in the dugout, all of a sudden I saw the players putting on tape. I though it was for Precious but I also saw the name of the president... We support the decision of the school president. I just want to take the opportunity to thank the supporters, the school community, for not giving up on the kids because it's really unfair to the kids, but of course, at the end of the day, we still have a committee that decides. Hopefully, this will be a learning experience for us coming next season.")

The UE head coach also said they wrote an appeal regarding Momowei's suspension.

"We wrote a letter immediately, we sent the email sa Board na naga-appeal kami na mabawasan 'yung penalty. Because we know that it’s gonna be hard for the kid na alam niyang it’s gonna be a big game today and aside from that he’s leading the Rookie of the Year so lahat yun nawala. For me it’s unfair for the kid na mawala sa kanya ng ganun lang kadali 'yung hard-earned na award na hindi lahat ng mga players nakukuha 'yung mga ganun."

("We wrote a letter immediately, we sent the email to the Board to appeal for a lighter penalty. Because we know that it's gonna be hard for the kid that he knows it's gonna be a big game today and aside from that, he's leading the Rookie of the Year, and that's now gone. For me, it's unfair for the kid to lose that hard-earned award, not all players can receive that.")

In the 12 games that Momowei played, he posted averages of 12.5 points, 14.17 rebounds, 1.17 assists, 1.25 steals, and 1.83 blocks per game.

His suspension, though, makes him ineligible to win any of the individual awards this season.

While UE was officially knocked out out of contention after Thursday's game, they can still play spoiler in the standings as they will play Adamson University on Sunday.

The Soaring Falcons are at 6-7 behind the Blue Eagles at 7-6, with both teams still having one game left on their schedules. Adamson can tie Ateneo in the standings with a win, coupled with an Ateneo loss to La Salle in their game on Saturday.

Should Ateneo win on Saturday, though, they will be able to clinch the last Final Four spot remaining, joining the University of the Philippines, National University, and La Salle, who have already booked their spots.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News