Keaton Taburnal of CRMC Mustangs suspended for two games by Cesafi
Keaton Clyde Taburnal. | Cesafi photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Keaton Clyde Taburnal of the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs has been suspended by the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Taburnal, the co-team captain of the newcomer CRMC Mustangs of Bogo City, will be slapped with a two-game suspension and will also have to pay P10,000 and do four hours of community service.
According to a statement from the Cesafi dated October 15, 2023, Taburnal was caught on tape hitting University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters’ John Herben Linares in the abdomen during their October 14 game at the Cebu Coliseum, which UC won, 84-68.
In its statement, Cesafi officials headed by the Technical Committee and CESAFI legal counsel and deputy commissioner Atty. Jesus D. Velez, recommended the suspension after a thorough review and deliberation, citing the Cesafi ground rules and regulations’ Rule VII.3.3 that Taburnal violated.
Under the said rule, “intentionally causing body harm to any player during the game shall be penalized with automatic two games suspension, a fine of P10,000, and four hours of community service as determined by the Cebu City Sports Commission.”
CRMC warned
Prior to the game, Cesafi officials, including Velez, fellow deputy commissioner Danny Duran, and Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, gathered UC and CRMC’s team officials at center court to warn them of rough plays before their game started.
Still, the incident between Taburnal and Linares happened in the second half of the game.
CRMC was also warned by the Cesafi of their rough plays in previous games, the statement said.
In fact, team captain Paulo Dalumpines was serving a suspension during the UC game after committing two unsportsmanlike fouls in their game against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars last October 1, 2023.
The head coach of the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs Paul Alelu Flores, meanwhile, has spoke about regarding the suspension of Taburnal.
In a message sent to CDN Digital, Flores said that they always respect the Cesafi board’s decision regarding Taburnal’s suspension.
READ: CRMC Mustangs coach on Taburnal’s suspension: This will be a learning experience
“As a coach, first, I ALWAYS RESPECT the decision of the CESAFI Board especially to our dear commissioner. This will be a learning experience for our players and for the team knowing what Taburnal can give to our team. We will stay composed and confident. We know ourselves better than them,” said Flores.
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