The UAAP Board of Trustees announced Wednesday afternoon that it upheld the Board of Managing Directors' decision to ban former UST Growling Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo indefinitely from all UAAP events and league-sanctioned activities.
It comes after a thorough review of the report UST submitted to the UAAP, which investigated the training bubble Ayo set up in Capuy, Sorsogon. The administrative leaders of the eight member-schools found Ayo guilty of violations against the joint administrative order released by the Philippine Sports Commission, Dept. of Health, and the Games and Amusements Board last July.
The UAAP Board of Trustees said in its statement: "The ban is based on the UST report that showed Ayo endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of public emergency intended to arrest the COVID-19 outbreak. The UAAP notes that the Commission on Higher Education will conduct an investigation on possible violations by UST and other individuals who may also be liable in the conduct of the activity. The association will follow these developments before discussing the next action on the case."
Three provisions of the joint administrative order are cited.
In the first provision, Ayo was found liable because he brought the team, whose members were in Metro Manila, to Sorsogon last June. Metro Manila was placed under general community quarantine in June, while Sorsogon had been placed under the less stricter modified general community quarantine.
Many of the bubble participants were also under age 21, which is in violation of the second provision.
Lastly, the Tigers, which are a non-professional team, trained when they were not allowed by government to do so, even in low-risk areas like Capuy town.
Ayo took responsibility in his resignation announcement on Sept. 4.
Aside from the ruling of the UAAP, Ayo will have to face the potential fallout from the government. The IATF-JAO group submitted their findings to the Dept. of Justice last Sept. 7.
As an educational institution, UST could face sanctions from the CHED for violating advisories urging students to stay home.
SBP weighs in
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, of which the UAAP is a member, respects the decision handed down by the league's highest decision-making body.
"We at the SBP recognize that each league has its own constitution, by-laws, and board members. We respect their decisions and policies but we cannot enforce it on other stakeholders of the federation," said SBP Director for Operations Butch Antonio. "We cannot restrict and we can't really use that word. As much as they're members, kailangan natin respetuhin yung decision nila. And as members, we respect the respective leagues' decisions."