Jane Bracher
EJECTED, SUSPENDED. FEU's Ron Dennison walks out of the court after he is thrown out in the game against UP. He is also suspended for one game for his disqualifying foul. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – FEU Tamaraws coach Nash Racela thinks UAAP commissioner Rebo Saguisag should review the disqualifying foul called on Ron Dennison in the game against the UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, September 25.
"I think that's something that the commissioner has to review," Racela said during the post-game interview after FEU escaped with a 51-49 win for a 3-2 record.
"I know Dennison has been a marked man but he has been really, really clean this year. And if they would call that touch foul on Dennison tapos 'yung mga big men kung manulak ina-allow nila, dapat si (Ben) Mbala (of La Salle) 20 fouls na every game (and then the big men they allow to keep pushing, then Mbala should have 20 fouls every game).
"Mali (It's wrong). I think those were really questionable calls today. It's up to the commissioner's office to review that," he added.
Dennison was slapped with a disqualifying foul with still 2:48 remaining in the fourth and was subsequently thrown out of the game. The video replay showed Dennison apparently tapping UP's Paul Desiderio in the mid-section.
Dennison gets thrown out for his shot on Desiderio #UAAPSeason79 pic.twitter.com/2baJ2mjfFV
— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) September 25, 2016
Dennison left the court just seconds after he made his only two points of the ballgame that put FEU on top, 47-44.
League rules say a disqualifying foul called on a player automatically merits a one-game suspension as well.
"Inarte lang. Nagpabagsak lang si ano (Desiderio). I don't think kalabitin ka sa tiyan babagsak ka ng ganoon (He was just acting. He just flopped. I don't think when you get poked in the stomach you'd fall that way)," said Racela. "The referees should be smart enough."
Dennison asserted he did not do anything to Desiderio, saying the referees are on to him because of his reputation since last season as a physical player.
"Lahat flop. Walang intention. Alam ni Desiderio na parang sasaktan ko siya kaya ready rin siya mag-flop. Tapos mainit din 'yung mga referees sa akin (It's all flop. No intention. Desiderio anticipated I might hurt him so he got ready to flop. And the referees are on to me)," Dennison explained.
"Sa akin kasi parang naging background nga sa akin 'yun na parang tirador ganoon. Pero ngayon wala (It's been my background to be this player who hurts others. But now that's not the case).
"Wala, wala. Kahit i-replay pa ng sampung beses 'yun. Wala (Nothing, nothing. Even if they replay it 10 times. Nothing)," Dennison added, noting the referee who called the foul also whistled him for what he believes was another bad call last season.
Desiderio, however, insisted he was hit, showing the area right below his rib cage where he felt pain. Having been teammates with Dennison at the University of the Visayas, Desiderio said he is not taking what happened personally.
"Best friend ko 'yan so sports lang. Kasi sabi ko, bibigyan namin ng good fight. Ang nangyari, good fight nga (He's my best friend so it's just part of the game. I said we should give it a good fight. And we did do that)," Desiderio explained.
"Pisikal lang talaga si Dennison. Ganyan lang talaga 'yan, nasanay na ako. May mga ano lang siya na extra, pero walang problema sakin 'yun, teammate ko pa rin 'yun (Dennison is just physical. He's always been like that, I'm used to it. He does have extra motions but that's not a problem with me, he was still my teammate)."
"Malaki ang respeto ko kay Dennison (I have high respect for Dennison)," he added.
Commissioner to review
Racela told Rappler over an hour after the game that he will consult with Saguisag regarding the next steps and will likely meet with him "mid-week."
"Don't know what action to take," he said when asked if FEU is considering filing a formal complaint.
Saguisag later on explained FEU has 48 hours to make a move for consideration though he will be reviewing the game tape as early as Sunday night.
"I won't make a definitive comment yet for fear of pre-judging the issue. But in cases of automatic suspension, we always do an automatic review," the commissioner explained.
"To me I treat it as a harsh penalty so therefore I make sure, even though it's automatic, it was really merited. The referees can make a mistake."
The video will be reviewed by the commissioner together with the referees involved, the lead technical man, and the deputy commissioners.
"If warranted, I can probably downgrade or reverse but I don't know if that's going to happen in this case. Not sure," Saguisag said.
He also clarified Dennison is still suspended for FEU's next game against the UST Growling Tigers on Saturday, October 1, unless there is new development.
"There's a presumption of regularity. The referees are presumed to have made the right call," Saguisag said.
"Unless there's really glaring evidence that the referee or official made a patent or gross error then the call should stay. The evidence to prove otherwise should be conclusive. Otherwise it will stand."
Saguisag said he will likewise review a separate instance of alleged flopping by UP's Dave Moralde, which resulted in an offensive foul on FEU big man Prince Orizu. – with reports from Naveen Ganglani/Rappler.com
