Colegio de San Juan de Letran has appealed the status of big man Pao Javillonar, who was initially handed a three-game suspension in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
The Knights’ team captain was sanctioned after being listed in the lineup of the PBA team Converge during the 39th Kadayawan Invitational Tournament in Davao last July.
Although Javillonar did not play for the FiberXers in the pre-season tournament, he was included on the team’s roster.
Javillonar – the 19th overall by the FiberXers in the recent PBA Draft – will now have to wait for the decision of the league’s Managing Committee before he can participate in Letran’s redemption campaign in the NCAA’s centennial basketball season.
If the three-game suspension is upheld, Javillonar will miss the Knights’ matches against San Sebastian, Jose Rizal University, and Arellano University.
The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as Letran finished NCAA Season 99 with a league-worst 2-16 record.
Javillonar remains hopeful about his situation, saying, “Yes, na-draft ako pero ‘di naman natatapos dun yung basketball diba. So, may kailangan akong pagtuunan ng pansin. So, eto, itong NCAA, last year ko, ito ang pagtuunan ko ng pansin. Tsaka eto yung nasa harapan ko, tsaka dito muna ako magfo-focus. Kahit after ng season, dun ulit tayo mag-isip diba?
“Kumbaga, one decision at a time muna.”