January 28, 2016, 12:03a.m. – BONG dela Cruz remains as coach of the UST Growling Tigers for now, but has been asked to stay out of team practices, the University’s top athletics official said.
Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA), declined to say what dela Cruz, who steered the Tigers to a UAAP finals appearance, was being investigated for.
De Sagon said he did not want to disclose details of an ongoing inquiry, because the coach might be prematurely or unfairly judged, especially on social media.
Dela Cruz’s contract runs until April.
“I cannot call it a preventive suspension because we have not suspended him,” De Sagon told The Varsitarian.
“What I am saying is that he cannot handle the practices until we have made a decision.”
De Sagon sought to downplay the investigation, saying it’s “about our basketball program in reference to the University’s policies.”
As a policy, De Sagon said the school administration acts on complaints and investigates.
“When there is an investigation, the usual thing is that they will not [perform their duties],” he said.
De Sagon confirmed that the Tigers resumed training without dela Cruz on the bench. He said the team “cannot afford to miss training, otherwise they will end up out of shape.”
Dela Cruz began coaching the Tigers before the start of UAAP Season 77. In his first year, UST failed to enter the Final Four after two consecutive championship appearances.
Last year, he led the Tigers back to the finals but they bowed to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in three games. – Sports Team
