Taking caution, the management of the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags have suspended third-year guard RK Ilagan for the rest of the first round of the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball tournament.
This stems from the pending investigation of the NCAA Management Committee regarding his allegedly playing in a basketball league without informing the school’s officials last June 30 – a day after the NCAA held its eligibility meeting.
With this, Macaraya and his staff have suspended Ilagan.
“Ang bigay namin kay RK because of his kasalanan, management of San Sebastian said that RK will be out of the elimination round even if three games lang ang suspension sa pagkakamali,” shared Macaraya after San Sebastian’s 94-70 win over the Mapua Cardinals.
Ilagan is averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in the five games he played.
However, this is just a slap on San Sebastian’s wrist, as NCAA rules state that the games played by a player caught in a “ligang libas” game will be forfeited up until the day when he was caught. This means that San Sebastian’s wins over the CSB Blazers and the JRU Heavy Bombers will be overturned.
“So far, were still praying. Ngayon daw ‘yung desisyon kay RK. Hopefully positive,” expressed Macaraya.
What Macaraya could not fathom is how Letran head coach Jeff Napa did not tell San Sebastian that this was happening. Letran had decided to hammer a suspension on rookie Koy Galvelo, who played in the same league with Ilagan.
“Nalaman namin after that fifth game nung nagsalita na ‘yung Letran. What I was very frustrated is alam na ni Jeff Napa, alam na ni coach Jeff na meron palang ganung nangyari, di man lang niya nasabi sa amin or ano kasi di naman nila ginagamit si Galvelo and that’s what hurt us,” rued Macaraya.
“If we know na ‘di pala pwede, why not give RK ano.”
Still, the Golden Stags are sticking with Ilagan through thick or thin.
“RK is still our player and we support him. Nagkamali siya and that’s why I told my players, ‘Let’s accept ‘yung pagkakamali ni RK and let’s move on kasi kahit anong mangyari, susuporta din kami kay RK.'”
