UE Red Warriors coach Jack Santiago called the suspension "unfair."
The UE Red Warriors have been eliminated from UAAP Season 86 Final Four contention, but they did not go down without a fight even as they played without suspended rookie Precious Momowei on Wednesday.
The Red Warriors played with a chip on their shoulder against the Ateneo Blue Eagles. They put masking tapes on their jerseys. Written on them was the name of Dr. Zosimo Battad, the UE president who stepped down as UAAP Season 86 chairperson before the game.
UE lost, 80-74, but star guard Rey Remogat had another stellar outing with a team-high 22 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
With him in spirit was Momowei, as Remogat wrote ROTY or Rookie of the Year, along with his suspended teammate's jersey number 21, on the tape on his wrist.
It was enough for Momowei to respond on his Instagram Story, "Love you brother."
"Don't forget! UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year," Remogat responded on his own page.
Momowei received a one-game suspension after his second unsportsmanlike foul of the season, committed against the De La Salle Green Archers last Sunday. It was a costly penalty, as the Nigeria native sat out their crucial match—they were trying to stay in the hunt for the Final Four—against the Blue Eagles and was also disqualified from contention for Rookie of the Year.
Still, Remogat said Momowei is the real winner.
Coach Jack Santiago told reporters after the game that they only learned of the suspension on Tuesday night, prompting Battad to call for an emergency meeting of the UAAP Board of Trustees on Wednesday morning.
Battad reportedly tried to appeal the weight of the penalty but was turned down, leading to his resignation.
"When the players learned about that during the pre-game talk sa dugout, all of a sudden, nakita ko yung players, they're putting on tapes," Santiago recounted. "So we support the decision of the school president. Maybe we just want to take this opportunity for not giving up sa mga bata."
Momowei was running as the top contender for the Rookie of the Year award. By the end of Round 1, he was sixth in the individual rankings averaging 12.5 points. He was also the top rebounder with 14.7 boards per game, and was second for blocks with 1.83.
But the suspension effectively disqualified Momowei in contending for the award.
"Unfair dun sa bata because he's leading as the Rookie of the Year," Santiago said. "Alam namin 'yung hard work ng mga bata."
Momowei's issue is part of the noise recently surrounding the league, as teams have protested the officiating.
Recently, Adamson Soaring Falcons coach Nash Racela cried foul on what he believed was unfair calls during their game against Ateneo last Sunday.
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UE has one more game to play this Sunday against Adamson, which is seeking to barge into the Final Four.
(With reports from Martie Bautista, News5)
(PM)