UE coach slapped with suspension after telling players to 'deliberately harm' UP's Ricci Rivero

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has suspended University of the East (UE) Basketball Team head coach Jack Santiago for "conduct unbecoming of a head coach."

According to the UAAP, Santiago was heard telling the team to deliberately harm University of the Philippines’ Ricci Rivero during the game between the two schools last Saturday, April 2.

The UP Fighting Maroons won the game, 81-66.

#UAAPSeason84 basketball commissioner Tonichi Pujante said a thorough review showed Santiago telling his players to inflict harm on Rivero.

— The UAAP (@uaap_84) April 4, 2022

The suspension was given by UAAP Season 84 basketball commissioner Tonichi Pujante.

"Violence is never an option," said Pujante. "Let this serve as a lesson to the entire UAAP community as well."

Santiago will sit out the Red Warriors’ next two games against Far Eastern University on April 5 and Adamson University on April 7. Pujante had recommended a three-game suspension on Santiago, but the coach appealed the sanction and lowered it to two.

An undisclosed referee who heard Santiago’s remarks but did not report him has also been suspended for one game day.

Meanwhile, UE guard Harvey Pagsanjan will also be summoned by the commissioner on April 5 for his unsportsmanlike foul on UP’s Zavier Lucero during the same game.