jayveejayvee:

Ex-Ateneo cager’s records questioned
By WAYLON GALVEZ
September 22, 2009, 7:30pm

Ateneo de Manila may have used an ineligible player for three seasons, including its championship run last year — a brewing controversy that could lead to possible sanctions from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Lawyer Levito Baligod filed the complaint with the UAAP board on Tuesday, alleging that Jobe Nkemakolam was not qualified to enter college.

Baligod presented as proof a certification from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) dated September 3 stating that Nkemakolam “has not met the academic requirements to graduate from high school, hence, he is not qualified for admission to college.”

The certificate was signed by Lilian B. Enriquez, OIC, Director III.

Baligod said he discovered the information by accident while following a background check on Nkemakolam. The lawyer said he’s representing Dr. Mylene Santos whose daughter is pregnant by Nkemakolam.

Nkemakolam, who turns 25 on November 11, attended high school at Reedley International School before joining Ateneo in 2004.

“It’s now incumbent upon UAAP to verify or validate the basis of Ateneo in claiming that Jobe had graduated from Reedley, when in fact Reedley has no record,” Baligod said. “Reedley even disputes that Jobe graduated from their institution.”

“Siguro ’yun ang tingnan ng UAAP, bakit sinabi ng Ateneo na high school graduate si Jobe,” he added.

The complaint letter, a copy of which the Bulletin obtained, was forwarded to UAAP board president Anton Montinola of host school Far Eastern University. Montinola was not available for comment.

Reached for comment, Ricky Palou, Ateneo’s representative to the UAAP board, dismissed the complaint as an attempt to discredit Ateneo.

“As far as we know, as far as we are concerned, Jobe graduated from Reedley. They can even check with Reedley,” Palou said. “Obviously, some parties are out there trying to discredit us.”

Nkemakolam, a burly 6-foot-5 center, was in Ateneo’s frontline rotation in the UAAP last season, the year the Blue Eagles swept La Salle for their first championship under coach Norman Black.

Nkemakolam, who is reportedly completing a master’s degree at Ateneo, also played in 2004 and 2007.

A UAAP board member, who asked not to be named, said the complaint is worth looking into.

“If this is substantiated, if it’s beyond reasonable doubt, this is very serious,” said the UAAP official. “The board should take this issue up.”

The case is similar to what happened in 2005 when La Salle was found guilty of fielding Mark Benitez who was accused of falsifying his PEP test to enter college.

That led to La Salle’s suspension in 2006. The Archers were also asked to return their 2004 championship in favor of Far Eastern University.

Aside from the CHED certificate, Baligod also presented a certificate from Reedley issued to the Department of Education dated July 9, 2009 verifying that Nkemakolam attended Reedley for two years, Grade 10 (2002-03) and Grade 11 (2003-04).

There was no record that Nkemakolam attended Grade 12 which is equivalent to fourth year high school, according to Baligod.

BACK TO BACK CHAMPS! LOL!!!

Hoping for a fair inquiry and not a public trial.