MANILA, Philippines – Possible sanctions await those involved in the brawl that marred the high school basketball game between De La Salle Zobel and Arandia College on Sunday, January 5.
LPM Basketball League, which serves as a local qualifying tournament for the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals, apologized for the incident and said it is evaluating potential punishment for individuals who took part in the full-blown melee.
“To tackle this issue, we are collaborating closely with all parties involved and fully cooperating with the NBTC leadership to ascertain the correct course of action and impose appropriate sanctions,” LPM Basketball League said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
“Moving ahead, we will establish more stringent guidelines and preventative measures to guarantee that such incidents do not happen again.”
The brawl happened with only a minute remaining and La Salle leading 89-78 in the semifinal clash, with tempers flaring instantly as coaches and players’ parents, including NorthPort team governor Erick Arejola, also getting involved.
Videos of the incident showed Arejola, whose son Champ plays for La Salle, trading blows with multiple individuals.
“The recent occurrence does not embody the values we uphold, and we strongly denounce violence, misconduct, or any actions that compromise the integrity of our league,” said LPM Basketball League.
“Our league remains resolute in its mission to nurture skills, shape character, and inspire future leaders through basketball. We are dedicated to restoring the trust and assurance of our community while continuing to offer a safe and supportive environment for young athletes to develop and flourish.”
To avoid a similar incident, the NBTC recommended that the championship game between La Salle and AMA Education to be held behind closed doors. – Rappler.com