CIT-U head coach, athletic director slapped with one-game suspensions in Cesafi hoop

The season for the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats continued on its downward spiral as they now own more sanctions than wins after their head coach and athletic director were suspended for one game each for what the Cesafi commissioner’s office deemed to be “unsportsmanlike conduct” in their 84-85 loss to the University of San Jose-Recoletos last Saturday.

In a show-cause letter released to the media, the commissioner’s office handed down one-game suspensions each to CIT-U head coach Gilbert Demape and athletic director Alecks dela Torre for their behavior after their heartbreaking loss to the Jaguars.

The game was a close one down the stretch and was tied at 84-all when CIT-U’s Franklin Batiquin was whistled for a looseball foul during a mad scramble for the ball with just 1.4 seconds remaining on the clock.

USJ-R’s Jayson Olbedado made one freethrow to give the Jaguars the win and the Wildcats their fourth loss in five games.

In a report submitted by referee Ado Balongoy, he said he was shoved by Demape after the game and was challenged to a fistfight as he was on his way home from the Cebu Coliseum.

This matter was not taken lightly by league commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, who aside from the suspension, also meted a fine of P5,000 to the head coach.

Dela Torre on the other hand, was suspended for a game for berating the referees in their dugout immediately after the match.

These sanctions are the third for CIT-U this season. The first was on star guard Floyd Taboada, who was suspended for a game for getting ejected in their loss to the University of the Visayas earlier this season. He was also fined P5,000.