The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas are in danger of losing everything they worked hard for during their first 14 games in the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
The reason? Four of Perpetual’s student-athletes under residency — namely Edgar Charcos, Kim Aurin, Rey Peralta, and Kyt Jimenez — played in a commercial league called Metro Basketball Tournament last year.
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The development was first reported by Spin.ph.
The four Altas played for the Las Pinas Home Defenders from September 10 to November 24, 2017.
Edgar Charcos of the Las Pinas Home Defenders (Photo from Metro Basketball League)
NCAA rules state that concerns regarding player eligibility should be raised to the Management Committee before the first round of the tournament ends. However, if there is “due negligence”, it can be raised at any point of the season.
Though players in residency are allowed to play for club teams, they must be playing for a school-based squad. Moreover, they must get clearance from both the school and the NCAA.
As an example, Bonbon Batiller, Larry Muyang, Christian Fajarito, and Fran Yu all played for the Wangs-Letran Couriers during the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup. In another case, Justin Gutang suited up for the Go-for-Gold Scratchers in the same tournament. Though Go-for-Gold did not have College of Saint Benilde in its name, the officials of the squad made sure to notify the NCAA that they are a school-based team.
On the other hand, Letran-commit Jordan Sta. Ana played for the Che’lu Revellers in the D-League’s Foundation Cup. The former UST Growling Tiger though was pulled out of the team after August 16 to comply with residency rules.
If proven of not passing the documents, the Altas, the season hosts, will fall to a 0-14 record. Moreover, all of their nine wins will be overturned.
Edgar Charcos of the Las Pinas Home Defenders (Photo from Metro Basketball League)
Charcos, Aurin, and Peralta were serving residency during the calendar year of 2017-18 as Charcos played for the UE Red Warriors a year ago while Aurin was with the JRU Heavy Bombers. Peralta, on the other hand, played for the Cagayan de Oro College Scorpions a year prior.
And all that was needed by Perpetual was a letter to the Mancom to avoid these sanctions.
The Grand Old League is set to launch a probe the matter. Chairman Frank Gusi will not head this case because of his affiliation with Perpetual.
