One must go in Tams-Tigers KO duel

By Abac Cordero
The Philippine Star
Monday, September 17, 2007

The wild, wooly chase for the second finals slot in the 70th UAAP season begins today when defending champion Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University collide at the Araneta Coliseum.

The two teams with great winning traditions closed out the eliminations with identical 8-6 slates for a tie for No. 4. They try to knock each other out in today’s lone game at 3 p.m.

Ateneo and La Salle ended tied for No. 2 at 9-5 behind unbeaten finalist University of the East. They break their own tie tomorrow, with the winner earning the twice-to-beat advantage.

The winner between UST and FEU will meet the loser of the Ateneo-La Salle match for the right to face the No. 2 team. All these playoffs will take place while the UE Maroons are on leave.

Ateneo lost its grip on the lofty No. 2 spot when it lost to NU the other day. It was the biggest upset of the season, one that could haunt the Blue Eagles forever – if they fail to reach the finals.

But tomorrow, La Salle will be one man short as 6-foot-5 Brian Ilad will serve his suspension for punching UE’s Mark Fampulme from behind in their game last Thursday.

Commissioner Ed Cordero called for a two-game suspension on Ilad “provided” that he issues a “sincere, written and public apology (to be made on television)” to Fampulme and the UAAP as well.

As of last night, members of the technical committee couldn’t agree on the length of the suspension although Ilad could be banned the rest of the season if he “opts not to apologize.”

Cordero said the issue will be elevated to the board, which meets tomorrow.

Ilad’s punch was magnified by the facts that he was not in the game at the time, that there was no direct provocation from Fampulme, and that it was thrown from behind, rendering the UE player totally defenseless.

“We also encourage La Salle officials to address the demeanor of their fans,” said technical committee head Kiko Diaz of UP. “They were even clapping for Ilad when he was ejected.”

Santo Tomas and FEU have met twice this year, and the Tamaraws, a rookie team under a rookie coach, have won twice. This should give them the mental edge today.

“At the start of the season all we wanted was to get to the Final Four. Now we’re in the playoff and we feel like we’ve won the title – no matter what happens,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio.

Yesterday, the UP Pep Squad gave its school something to cheer about when it won the cheer-dance competition over UST and FEU. The Maroons lost all their 14 matches but still were winners in the end.