UAAP: UE’s Santos, Ateneo’s Leal handed one-game suspensions

University of the East’s John Dexter Santos and Ateneo de Manila University‘s Jay-M Leal. UAAP Media.MANILA — University of the East’s John Dexter Santos and Ateneo de Manila University’s Jay-M Leal have each been handed a one-game suspension for separate incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct in UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball.

Santos will miss the Red Warriors’ game against De La Salle University on Wednesday, October 21, at the Mall of Asia Arena, while Leal will sit out Ateneo’s matchup against Far Eastern University on Saturday, October 24, at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Santos was penalized for a disqualifying foul against University of the Philippines’ Dikachi Udodo during their game on October 17.

At the 34-second mark of the fourth quarter, while players were positioning for a rebound following a shot attempt, Santos struck the back of Udodo’s head with his right forearm before hitting the UP big man’s face with the same arm.

The incident was initially called an unsportsmanlike foul but was upgraded to a disqualifying foul following a review using the Instant Replay System.

Meanwhile, Leal received his suspension after accumulating two unsportsmanlike fouls.

The second incident occurred during Ateneo’s game against the University of Santo Tomas on October 17. At the 23-second mark of the second quarter, Leal swung his left elbow horizontally with force toward the neck and chest area of UST’s Ice Danting as the two players positioned themselves for a rebound.

Although the foul was not called by the game officials, the UAAP Commissioner’s Office reviewed the incident and imposed disciplinary sanctions under the league’s House Rules and applicable FIBA regulations.

Leal had previously incurred his first unsportsmanlike foul during Ateneo’s game against FEU on October 10.

At the 1:07 mark of the fourth quarter, Leal swung his right hand downward toward the face and shoulder of FEU’s Rojan Montemayor as the latter drove to the basket, without making a legitimate attempt to play the ball. The incident was initially called a personal foul before being upgraded to an unsportsmanlike foul.