By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
It’s been nearly a month since the controversial game between the Siquijor Mystics and the ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu team in the 2021 Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.
After the decision of imposing a lifetime ban on the entire Siquijor squad, some players were successful with their appeal to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and the VisMin Super Cup.
Miguel Castellano and Michael Sereno, both part of the Siquijor roster, had their suspensions lifted by GAB due to their absence in the playing court.
Castellano was staying in his hotel room as he was recovering from a sore right knee injury while Sereno did not make it into the bubble since the start of the games.
Meanwhile, Ryan Buenafe – probably the most popular player to wear the Siquijor jersey, is the latest player to appeal his case and is hoping to get his ban lifted.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle superstar presented his case to GAB, explaining that although he was playing inside, he was nursing an injury right after colliding with Lapu-Lapu’s Dawn Ochea.
In the whole first half of the game, Buenafe only played a total of five minutes and 28 seconds and wasn’t able to contribute to the team’s scoring column.
Buenafe was grimacing in pain on the sidelines but was still called for a substitution because they only have a limited number of players to utilize.
“Wala na kaming player nun kaya pinasundot ulit ako ni coach pero kahit sprinting hindi na talaga kaya. Masakit na talaga,” said Buenafe.
As the game turned ugly leading to the controversial sequence of events, Buenafe was already sitting on the bench being attended to by the team’s physical therapist.
“First game out na ko e, hindi talaga kaya maglaro. Nung second game, nakalaro ako nun kasi pinahinga ako nung unang game. Third game hindi na talaga kaya,” added Buenafe.
Buenafe is hopeful and optimistic that GAB and the VisMin officials will take into consideration his side and will have his appeal granted.
