USC coach hits unannounced return of two suspended refs

AFTER staying mum following the loss that ended their title hopes for this season, the University of San Carlos’ normally stoic head coach Bong Abad expressed his disappointment with the officiating crew that handled their match against the University of the Visayas Green Lancers last Thursday.

The Warriors lost that game, 71-81, to end their two-year finals streak. However, that was just part of the story as Abad and his staff found out late in the game that two referees that officiated their game were supposedly suspended for their roles in the wild University of Cebu-University of Southern Philippines Foundation game last month.

Abad said that they did not receive any letter or communication from the league that announced the lifting of the suspension.

Cesafi Deputy Commissioner Marvin Panares told this writer the other day that he made the call to lift the suspension after he found no further basis to suspend referees Roland Yamelo and Jebrel Calma. He also said that he had yet to pen a formal document indicating the details of the investigation as well as his decision.

Abad described the development as “ridiculous” and “unfair.”

“It’s absolutely unfair and ridiculous! How can they let that happen? We were blindsided by it. They let those two suspended referees officiate our game,” said Abad

“Those two referees were responsible for bringing trouble to the game between USPF and UC. That’s why they were placed on indefinite suspension but we did not receive any letter that said that their suspension had already been lifted. To make matters worse, they chose to officiate our game,” he added.

Abad is hoping for this matter to be investigated, lest it smear the reputation of the league, which is widely considered to be the third best in the country, behind the UAAP and the NCAA.