Greenies' win in peril as jersey number issue surfaces

By Ivan Saldajeno

SAN JUAN, MM--La Salle Greenhills opened its NCAA campaign with an 88-49 blowout win against Letran High School on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

But the victory could be overturned as a problem regarding three players' jerseys was raised up.

Jesmar Pedrosa, Ladis Lepalam, and Alain Madrigal checked into the ballgame for the Greenies wearing kits numbered 20, 27, and 28 respectively, a far cry from the allowed jersey numbers for an NCAA team.

According to league rules, teams can only use the numbers 4 to 19 in their jerseys as per the old FIBA rules. The global governing body in basketball, however, amended the rule this year, allowing players to wear jersey numbers 0 (or 00) to 3 and 20-99 as well.

Should the game be forfeited, it will pull a 35-point explosion by Batang Gilas player Ricci Rivero down the drain. All the three players with the jersey numbers mentioned scored for La Salle Greenhills too.

On the other hand, the possible forfeiture could turn into gold a lackluster performance by Letran.

The Squires are trying to stay formidable without Jerrick Balanza, who moved to the seniors' team.