FOR fielding an ineligible player in their opening game, the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups forfeited their won match against the University of the East Junior Warriors.
Commissioner Rebo Saguisag said this after reviewing the eligibility records of the players seeing action in the ongoing 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament.
This means that the Bullpups’ 107-69 win last Nov. 11 will be reversed in favor of the losing team, the Junior Warriors.
The forfeiture dropped the Bullpups out of solo second position in the team standings at the end of the first round.
The Bullpups are now even with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs with 5-2 slates.
“Records show that in the game against UE last Nov. 11, the Bullpups fielded in an ineligible player who was not able to satisfy eligibility requirements,” wrote Saguisag in his memo.
Saguisag did not identify the player, but according to statistics released after the games, it was Jayson Puray.
In succeeding games, stats records show that Puray did not play in the Bullpups’ next six games.
The second-round games will resume today at The Arena in San Juan, with the Bullpups clashing with the defending champion Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws at 8 a.m.
The solo-leading Ateneo Blue Eaglets will go for their eighth straight win in their 11 a.m. encounter with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs.
The Junior Warriors, who have one win to show after seven games, will meet La Salle Zobel at 1 p.m., while the Adamson Baby Falcons take on the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons at 3 p.m.