The UAAP’s basis on why UP's Reyland Torres will be spared of suspension after his ejection in Game 2 of the Season 87 Finals, and the other players who have enjoyed the same circumstance.
UP guard Reyland Torres won’t be suspended in the Fighting Maroons’ winner-take-all Game 3 against the DLSU Green Archers in the UAAP Season 87 Finals this Sunday, even after being ejected in Game 2 last December 11.
For some, the decision was an eyebrow raiser. That is, most UAAP players who get ejected in a game are usually suspended in the subsequent outing.
But because of the nature of Torres’ infractions in Game 2, there was a different interpretation of the whole situation.
[RELATED: UAAP: Reyland Torres declared eligible to play for UP in Finals Game 3 vs La Salle]
What The Foul?
The UAAP referenced the 2024 Official Basketball Rules, as established by FIBA, where they outline specific provisions when it comes to unsportsmanlike fouls and that they are grouped in five categories.
• Category 1 - Contact with an opponent and not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
• Category 2 - Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.
• Category 3 - An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. (This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting).
• Category 4 - An illegal contact caused by the player from behind or laterally on an opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket and there are no other opponent players between the progressing player, the ball and the basket. (This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting).
• Category 5 - Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the playing court when the game clock shows 2 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime, when the ball is out-of-bounds for a throw-in and still in the hands of the referee or at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.The truth of Torres’ situation lies in the type of unsportsmanlike fouls he committed. Albeit resulting in his ejection from the game, it won’t necessarily warrant a suspension in the next contest.
Torres’ first unsportsmanlike foul, which occurred midway through the third quarter when he committed a hard foul on EJ Gollena, was assessed as a Category 2 foul. While his second, which was a “clear path foul” with 2:58 remaining in the fourth, was classified as a Category 4.
Per the UAAP, Categories 3, 4, and 5 do not warrant suspensions, which is the main basis of why Torres will be available for the Fighting Maroons come Sunday.
Deja Vu?
While the UAAP’s decision regarding Torres may have been a thorn on the side of the supporters from the La Salle community — especially considering his history with La Salle head coach Topex Robinson — one might be too quick to judge and deem it as special treatment.
[RELATED: UAAP: No sanctions handed out to La Salle's Topex Robinson after heated exchange with UP--source]
Still, La Salle supporters may recall that former Green Archers guard Mark Nonoy was assessed a similar decision prior to their Final Four battle against the NU Bulldogs in Season 86.
Nonoy had incurred two unsportsmanlike fouls in two separate games against the UP Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. The decision also raised eyebrows after then-rookie Precious Momowei from UE was suspended for one game due to a similar situation.
[RELATED: Sigh of relief for La Salle as Mark Nonoy escapes automatic suspension for unsportsmanlike foul]
But, again, the devil lies in the details as the UAAP assessed the categories which the unsportsmanlike fouls fall into.
Even in UAAP Season 87, there were similar cases such as Adamson’s John Calisay, who was not suspended in the Soaring Falcons’ Final Four playoff against UE despite his two unsportsmanlike fouls in their match against the Ateneo Blue Eagles last November 23.
Suspensions handed to UST’s Mo Tounkara and UE’s Momowei anew this year were also decided in the same way, adhering to FIBA rules.
Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals between UP and defending champion La Salle will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, live from the Smart Araneta Coliseum.