AFTER obtaining her third technical foul in a UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball game, UST Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong was handed a one-game suspension following an updated UAAP house rule.
Ong’s third infraction was rooted in an unsportsmanlike foul the Tigresses bench received in the third quarter of their 97-74 win against the DLSU Lady Archers on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The call was made after UST’s coaching staff contested a referee’s call despite them having a prior warning after they protested an earlier call in the second quarter. Her first two infractions were logged during a first round matchup with the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the UST Quadracentennial Pavilion, where the defending champions notched a 90-67 victory.
Updating the two-game infraction threshold last season, a “three infraction rule” states that a player or a head coach will be suspended one game after getting their third technical foul.
According to UAAP Commissioner Jai Reyes, a change happened within the league’s house rules in order to align it with the current FIBA rules.
“So coaches, there may be more technical fouls this year, so please keep your benches in control,” Reyes said during a UAAP Season 89 Basketball press conference last Sept. 4.
The suspension for the Growling Tigresses’ head tactician will take effect during the España-based squad’s match against the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, Nov 8, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. F
