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Archers out to vent ire on Tams |
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Source : Staff
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Saturday, 12 July 2008 10:58 |
A bitter loss to Ateneo and an early dispute with the commissioner marked the start of La Salle’s title-retention drive in the 71st UAAP season.
But Saturday the Green Archers will try to leave those worries behind when they take on the FEU Tamaraws in the featured match at Philsports.
La Salle took a 79-73 loss to Ateneo last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. It doesn’t come often that La Salle loses its opening match in the UAAP.
Worse, the Green Archers fell into a controversy so early in the season.
Coach Franz Pumaren was slapped a technical foul even before the game had started as he failed to put on his coaches’ ID entering the court.
The Green Archers resented the early penalty slapped on them, arguing that team officials in the game prior to theirs also didn’t wear their IDs.
But commissioner Chito Narvasa stood firm in his decision, and sounded like he won’t hesitate penalizing those who will break the rule.
The Green Archers will have to keep their minds in the game when they face the Tamaraws in the exciting 4 p.m. encounter.
The Tams, a team that should be taken seriously this season, hurdled Adamson, 74-71, in the season opener last Saturday.
A victory by FEU will push the Morayta-based school on top of the standings along with Ateneo and UE.
In the other game set at 2 p.m. host University of the Philippines goes up against 2006 champion Santo Tomas.
The Maroons went winless in 14 games last year but made a complete turnaround when they defeated the NU Bulldogs last Sunday, 86-72.
But they will be in for a major test against the Tigers, one of this year’s title favorites, despite a 78-73 loss to UE in their opening game.
Coach Pido Jarencio of UST, who was photographed not wearing his ID in their first game, said he’s willing to face the penalty of two free throws to be awarded UP before the start of the game.
Narvasa yesterday said there’s no need for this.
"I appreciate their gesture and honesty. But people have already been reprimanded," he said.
Sources, however, said the UAAP board will sit down at noon today to tackle the ID issue. League commissioner Chito Narvasa is expected to face the board.
"He has not answered our queries why we were penalized the others were not," said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren yesterday.
"We wanted to know the rationale behind the wearing of these IDs. And again, why we were penalized and the others were not," he added.
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