UST’S ATHLETIC director initially turned down Aldin Ayo’s request for a training camp in his home province of Sorsogon, but the coach returned a week later supposedly because the players wanted it “since they had nothing to do in their hometowns” the Varsitarian has learned.
It was not clear in the UST investigation submitted to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) whether Fr. Jannel Abogado, then head of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, eventually gave the go-signal for the Sorsogon “bubble.”
Abogado and Ayo have since resigned as UST came under fire over the alleged Growling Tigers’ training conducted despite the pandemic.
The CHEd is set to issue a show-cause order asking UST to explain why its officials should not be sanctioned over the Sorsogon training.
Possible violation of government-imposed quarantines will be endorsed to the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government “for further investigation and prosecution,” according to a Varsitarian source.
Similar actions will also be taken for the National University, which is also under investigation for allegedly holding training in Laguna.
The Tigers’ two-month “bubble” training included 3-on-3 basketball, with some players also attending a seminar on farming and visiting a piggery, the Varsitarian learned.
Daily practice was held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with players resting on Tuesdays and Sundays, according to the source.
Three players left the bubble on August 19, while the rest stayed on, investigation showed.
Former team captain CJ Cansino first confirmed that he was out of the team on August 20.
