Controversy

Last week, the news that La Salle fielded an ineligible basketball player the last three years hit. It seems that this player either falsified his Department of Education PEPTCS certificate on purpose in order to enter the school or was a victim of this.

Due to this recent development, the UAAP board may forfeit all of the games that La Salle won the last three years where this player suited up. That means forfeiting last year's Championship and this year's Runner-up finish. This is not yet final, and the UAAP board may swing both sides of the strictness rule.

I am quite proud of my school. The whistle blower in this case was the school official himself, I think the one in charge of records. I just hope outsiders will realize that we do not tolerate any cheating or whatever just to win a championship, a basketball championship isn't just worth it.

If there were any other officials involved, it would really be a shame. Their action is despicable. If this player acted alone, he has just signed his career's death certificate.

However, don't be hasty in judging us. I offer this challenge to the other schools to check their records themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other more vagrant instances of this. To the amateur sporting world, the recruitment of blue chip players is highly competitive. I will cite the case of Adamson University in 1994, when they kept Marlou Aquino in their roster even if he just took 18 units the whole of two years of his stint for the Falcons.

So to the hecklers out there, clean your own backyard first!

Peace!