The Reality: This is the UAAP, Not the Court of Appeals

type='html'>

While Commissioner Ato Badolato describes goaltending as a
judgment call, leading to the vetoing of UST's protest...

...the Tigers elevated the matter to the UAAP Board because of
the failure to recognize Norman Black's ill-advised entry to the
playing court.

With all due respect to Moira Gallega of PinoyFootball.com, I'm borrowing her idea about the headline of her article about the UFL's AFP teams and use the pattern of it for my latest post. Just like the legion of fans from all the schools, I am upset about the latest developments in the UAAP today. Last week, a controversial layup by RR Garcia at the buzzer to give FEU the win against NU that was counted by the referees was protested by NU. The Bulldogs sent the appeal to Commissioner Ato Badolato. He denied the appeal, but upon elevating the case to the league board, the board overturned the verdict and rescheduled the entire match to September 23. Now, the UST Growling Tigers put their 66-68 loss against Ateneo under protest for two reasons: Karim Abdul's block that was counted as a goaltending infraction and the referees failing to slap a technical foul on Blue Eagles coach Norman Black in the dying moments. Kume Ato denied the appeal because goaltending, classified as a judgment call, is irreversible, but UST elevated the matter to the board because of the matter on Black's technical not called.

Upon posting the news on the Facebook where I'm an admin, aside from the rants that I got because of my corniness (I put in "Good news, Thomasians" in UP-UST Friendship when it's actually a bad news for them, while I put in "Bad news, Ateneans" in Kasali, when it's actually good news for them. Sorry, guys!), some comments that we got put the blame on the spotty officiating, bribery, and even NU for starting the trend. But the rest mean only one message: Let's move on!

I even agree with one comment on UP-STe: "Games should be decided inside the basketball court and not in the board room," or for this article the "court of appeals". Even if there's a solid ground for protesting the game, I will just take the loss and play with all heart in the next game. I actually liked UST Coach Pido Jarencio's statement after the loss: "Pag talo, talo." Of course, his mood changed when Kume used his veto power (he's pushing the technical on Black, while the management added the goaltend). Even former UST coach Aric Del Rosario, now with Perpetual Help in the NCAA, said in his post-game after the Altas lost to Mapua last night, "Ako, ayoko mag-protesta... Ako, kung makapasok, eh di papasok pag ayaw di wag," although he admitted that he did not like the spotty officiating in that game. UPHSD athletic director Moses Lozada put the game under protest due to the said matter.

I respect the teams's right to protest the game if there's something wrong (even if they win that said match), but I don't like the championship to be decided in the "court of appeals". I don't know how the fans will react if UST and NU eventually make the finals, but for me, I'll take it. If it's Cats vs. Dogs in the Last Dance, so be it. What I just want to say is that I hope UST's protest will be the last we will hear this year. I want the championship to be settled on the hardwood and not in front of "knowledgeable" people who will give their "verdict beyond reasonable doubt" and just ignore the rule of the commissioner, who is one of the best coaches in Asia. This is basketball, not an impeachment trial against Ato Badolato. This is a game of athletes, not of law school freshmen. Lastly, this is the UAAP, not the "Court of Appeals"!

Peace out!

The Reality: You Disappointed Us

type='html'>

A sight of the hundreds who trooped
to the malls just to get a cheerdance
ticket.

This may be the first time I am putting the new Cybercrimes Act to the test, but whatever happens, I will be accountable to my words, especially that I am one of the thousands who waited in vain for an opportunity to buy a UAAP cheerdance ticket. I never thought that the first time SM is managing the ticket selling for the cheering showdown turned out to be a disaster. Wait! It's expected that there will be flaws, but this one is even worse than I thought.

Alright, SM. You promised us that your ticketing system will make the tickets available for all and at least lessen the crowd who will pursue for a last-minute buying, but how come only a handful were sold per SM mall? The irony: all the mall-sold tickets sold out like pancakes, according to your report. I have no idea how the tickets were sold if only as much as 20 were sold per mall. I also don't know if I will take your report that stolen credit cards were used in the online selling which you said was a factor why only a few were sold in the malls and maybe even in the MOA Arena.

Secondly, you said that it's schoolboys first. But according to some FEU students, only a thousand all in all were sold in that school. Perhaps 2,000 tickets/per school is a better number. That could also be the same case in the other schools. You also said the school tickets are to be sold as late as Wednesday, but most of the schools just started selling Thursday morning. I don't know if that's to minimize the mall lines or you just distributed the tickets late. I'm thinking about the latter more.

Thirdly, how can you explain this? As of around 11:00 AM, you said the tickets were "totally sold out", but someone was still able to get a ticket by around 12:30 PM. I waited until 1:20 to get a ticket. I was the only one left hoping for even a general admission ticket in the line. And how about this? You said "no ticket reservation" and only maximum of two tickets/person in the mall selling, but how can you explain this?

Have I already mentioned that sources say a daughter of an official at SM Novaliches just breached to the line (as in sumingit talaga) and hoarded all of the tickets?

I'm still respecting you, guys. In fact, I still love to go to your malls when I have free time. But I, along with the thousands who waited since the past weekend to get a cheerdance, am disappointed about what happened. Alright, I forgive you for this is your first time handling ticket selling. But please, next time, I want to see the smiles on the people who would get their tickets and even those who wouldn't be able to do so but saw the betterment of the system. I hope this will be the last.

Peace out y'all!