UAAP issues suspension of 4 Volleybelles

Still on top: The DLSU Lady Archers remain the number 1 team
in the UAAP Women's Volleyball sans the controversy.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The DLSU Lady Archers were making some noise last week. I'm not talking about their unbeaten streak in the UAAP. Word has it that two of La Salle's Volleybelles reportedly played for another tournament while the UAAP games are ongoing. This is not actually the first time Team Green was hit by a similar setback.

It didn't take long for me to confirm the news though. Indeed, there were a lot of stuff written about it floating around the internet but I took reference on what was reported on PDI's web page that week.

Via Inquirer.net:

La Salle faces forfeiture of four of its seven victories in a remarkable first-round sweep of UAAP women's volleyball after two players were found to have violated league rules by competing in a commercial tournament.

Edwin Reyes, director of La Salle's Office of Sports Development, said the school informed the UAAP board yesterday of the violation involving bench players Carmela Garbin and Clarisse Yeung.

The incident came on the heels of the NCAA's disqualification of semifinalists Perpetual Help and St. Benilde for the same offense in women's volleyball.

Both varsity leagues prohibit players in all sports from competing in other tournaments for the duration of the season.

"We're willing to face the consequences," Reyes said, adding La Salle had already suspended Garbin and Yeung for their unauthorized participation in the Vikings Cup tournament hosted by World Citi Colleges.

The UAAP board held a meeting last January 19 to discuss possible sanctions for the 2 La Salle players that participated in the Viking Cup. As noted in the previous reports, De La Salle would forfeit 4 games max and suspension of Carmela Garbin and Clarisse Yeung for the rest of the season.

Just a couple of days ago, the UAAP Board released an official statement regarding the latter. It was also learned that 4 players were found to have participated in another tournament and violated league rules.

For more, here's the official statement of the UAAP Board:

January 19, 2011



UAAP BOARD OFFICIAL STATEMENT



Regarding the issue of playing in another tournament without prior
permission from the UAAP Board while the UAAP Women’s Volleyball
season is ongoing, the following decisions were arrived at during the
meeting held today:


That the following are suspended for the rest of the season effective
immediately:


a. Carmela Garbin – DLSU

b. Clarisse Yeung – DLSU

c. Alyssa Paril – UE

d. Lorraine Chua – UP


That the outcome of some games will be changed as follows:



a. December 18, 2010 UST-UE game, 25-0, 25-0, 25-0, in favor of UST;

b. January 08, 2011 DLSU-UE game, 25-0, 25-0, 25-0, in favor of UE; and.

c. January 15, 2011 UP-NU game, 25-0, 25-0, 25-0, in favor of NU.



The team standings will be adjusted accordingly before the January 22,
2011 games.


The schedule agreed upon at the January 13, 2011 UAAP Volleyball
Coaches meeting will remain unchanged.


Issued by:

Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC

President

UAAP Season 73

The Lady Archers still keep the top spot sans the UAAP Board's decision while the UST Tigresses remain second banana in the tournament.

The following is the updated team standings for UAAP 73 Women's Volleyball (as of January 21):

1. DLSU 7-1
2. UST 7-2
3. Adu 5-3
4. ADMU 5-4
5. NU 4-5
6. UE 3-5
7. FEU 2-6
8. UP 1-8

Now that there's closure on the issue, we can all mosey along and move forward from this. I simply can't fathom why players -- whichever league they play for -- seriously, what or which part of the rules per se don't they actually understand?

For all the parties involved, I sure hope they learn a lot from that experience of sorts.

Let's just all put behind what's happened in the past, have fun and enjoy the rest of the UAAP Volleyball games shall we?