Controversy arises in NBAC caging as CDN, GMA-7 make finals

THE INQUIRER-Cebu Daily News (CDN) Siloys hardly broke a sweat in clinching a championship berth after it scored a controversial default win over TV-5 yesterday in the semifinal round of the 2015 Newsmen Basketball Association of Cebu (NBAC) at the Cebu Eastern College Gym.

Advancing to the championship round only for the second time in team history, the Siloys face a daunting task of overcoming a formidable foe in the best-of-three finals as they face many-time champion GMA-7 Kapuso.

The Kapuso, who have not tasted a single defeat for several conferences now, earned another trip to the finals by downing CCTN 47-dyHP, 81-68.

Julius Vidal spearheaded GMA-7 with 31 points. Philip Patricio paced CCTN 47-dyHP with 21 markers, while Ricky Candia added 14.

GMA-7 and Inquirer-CDN were twice-to-beat in the semifinals after a one-two finish in the eliminations.

DECISION UPHELD

TV-5 actually showed up in the venue and appealed  to league commissioner Bobby “Knight” Inoferio to allow its suspended player Noel Sanico to suit up for its scheduled game against the Siloys.

Players of TV-5 decided not to play when Inoferio and league president Lloyd Suarez stood firm on their decision to implement the suspension against Sanico.

Sanico and Inquirer-CDN’s Jonas Panerio were slapped with a one-game suspension after they figured in a shouting match in the Siloys’ 82-71 win over TV-5 last June 7.

Sanico and Panerio were both ejected following the scuffle.  Panerio served his suspension in the Siloys’ 78-84 loss to GMA-7 last June 18 while Sanico had yet to serve his as the game against Inquirer-CDN was TV-5’s last elimination round game.

Inoferio said league officials will meet to discuss what additional sanctions to impose against Sanico after the TV-5 player figured in a confrontation with Suarez yesterday.

Before leaving the venue, Sanico approached both Inoferio and Suarez and told the officials “taronga ninyo’g dala ang liga” (handle the league well).

An irked Suarez rose from his seat and told Sanico, “Ngano gabinuang diay mi sa liga? Unsay may gusto nimo?” (Why? Are we fooling around with the league? What do you want?)”
Sanico left the venue after the exchange.

“Sanico has been involved in trouble in every game he played in this season. We will hold a meeting to discuss what actions to take against his behavior unbecoming of an NBAC player. We want to

uphold the league’s vision to uphold camaraderie and sportsmanship,” said Inoferio.