UAAP suspends Ateneo coach Louie Alas for one game

MENTOR. Ateneo coach Louie Alas (left) instructs his players on court.

UAAP

Just days after losing to rival La Salle, the Ateneo Blue Eagles look to rebound against the FEU Tamaraws minus head coach Louie Alas

MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP suspended Ateneo head coach Louie Alas on Friday, October 9, after accumulating three infractions in the men’s basketball tournament. 

Alas will serve a one-game suspension on Saturday, October 10, when the Blue Eagles battle the Far Eastern University Tamaraws at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ateneo, fresh from a loss to rival La Salle, remains locked in a three-way tie for second at 3-2, behind FEU (3-1) early in the first round of Season 89.

Alas committed two of his three infractions during Ateneo’s game against the La Salle Green Archers on Wednesday, October 7, while his first technical foul came on September 19, during the Blue Eagles’ match against the UP Fighting Maroons.

League rules state that coaches will be slapped an automatic one-game suspension after accumulating three technical fouls or infractions.

During the Ateneo-La Salle game, Blue Eagles assistant coach Kerby Raymundo was observed verbally taunting La Salle player Vhoris Marasigan from the bench following a foul call at the 3:42 mark of the fourth quarter. Alas was subsequently assessed a direct technical foul for unsportsmanlike behavior, which was later changed to a bench technical foul.

Around the same time, Alas was observed engaging in physical misconduct when he forcefully attempted to pull a La Salle player to his feet before making further physical contact by nudging another player with his elbow. 

The actions were not seen by game officials, but the Commissioner’s Office reviewed the incidents and assessed the physical misconduct as a disqualifying foul under the UAAP House Rules and applicable FIBA regulations.

During the Ateneo-UP game, Raymundo was assessed a technical foul for improper bench decorum, which was charged to Alas.