The National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines has issued a statement addressing the violent incident that occurred following the game between Mapua University and the College of Saint Benilde in the seniors basketball tournament on Saturday.
The opening day of the NCAA Season 100 was marred by an unsettling event in which a referee was assaulted after the final buzzer.
According to multiple reports from players and coaches to Tiebreaker Times, a referee, wearing uniform No. 7, was attacked and left bloodied in the hallway of the SM Mall of Asia Arena’s backstage area.
The game itself saw the Blazers triumph over the Cardinals, 78-65, but the post-game violence has overshadowed the contest’s result.
In response to the incident, the NCAA launched an immediate and thorough investigation.
The NCAA Management Committee (Mancom) convened swiftly and began an ongoing probe into the matter.
With assistance from Mapua University, the Mancom has identified one individual involved in the assault.
This person will be banned from participating in any Mapua events while the NCAA continues its own investigation.
The association has pledged to follow its Manual of Operations and impose appropriate penalties as per its rules.
“The NCAA received information that unidentified persons attacked one of its referees after the game between the Mapua Cardinals and the Benilde Blazers,” the league’s statement read.
“The referee involved received immediate medical care and is currently in a safe condition. We are grateful for the quick response of the medical team and all those who assisted in ensuring that the referee was immediately attended to.”
The NCAA is also working with the SM Mall of Asia Management to review how the incident occurred; assess the security protocols observed and potentially breached at the venue; and consider additional measures to enhance safety during games.
The league has activated new safety measures to protect student-athletes, coaches, game officials, staff, and spectators at all future events.
As the oldest collegiate league, the NCAA emphasizes its commitment to fostering sportsmanship, respect, and camaraderie.
The statement firmly reiterated that violence has no place in collegiate sports and vowed to address the incident in line with its mission of promoting these core values.
“The NCAA does not condone violence,” the statement continued.
“Violent acts undermine the integrity of the game, the league, and the sport itself, and threaten the safety of everyone involved. Such actions will not be tolerated, and we will address this incident in accordance with our rules.”
