Alvin Padilla is suspended for 1 game for elbowing Rookie Art Dela Cruz of Ateneo in the blow out loss of the UP Fighting Maroons against the Blue Eagles last saturday. Padilla will miss the game vs La Salle this Thursday.
2 other players from FEU and NU was also slapped a one game suspension, Reil Cervantes (FEU) and Glenn Khobuntin (NU).
“All three players committed their second unsportsmanlike foul, so it’s an automatic suspension,” league commissioner Ato Badolato said yesterday. “There will be a more serious penalty for a third offense, probably a two-game suspension.”
I really do not understand why Cervantes was penalized with only one game suspension when the foul he committed (second unsportsmanlike foul)was far dangerous than what Padilla committed. Cervantes made a hard and career threatening whacking foul while Paul Lee was airborne making a lay up. Paul Lee went down, almost rib-first to the floor. It took him a while before he regained his bearing. From the looks of it, the foul was really meant to maim and not to block the shot. Padilla on the other hand, made a weak elbow to de la Cruz who caused the incident by intentionally bumping Padilla when the ball was not on play. A distinction should be made when a dangerous foul is career-threatening like the one committed by Cervantes. Philippine college basketball can’t afford to lose permanent disability a very talented, intelligent,good sports and exciting-to-watch player like Paul Lee.