Ricky Palou, Ateneo’s board representative, said Fr. Rendon’s decision to keep quiet was highly irregular.
"He should have at least told us or called an emergency meeting," said Palou who noted that Mark Benitez, widely believed to be the player under investigation, still played in the game.
In the rich history of the UAAP, the board has wielded vast powers.
In one bizarre incident in the sixties, the board declared University of the East and University of Santo Tomas co-champions after coaches of both teams refused to field their players in the second half.
The board has also reversed results of the game and ordered a replay of matches.
In an emergency meeting this season, the board junked the decision of the technical committee and ordered a replay of the match between UE and La Salle.
Fr. Rendon, however, said he found no need to call a meeting, noting that there’s a scheduled board meeting on Nov. 15.
"Do you want me to turn the public away?" asked Rendon. "La Salle asked me to keep quiet for the meantime, and I kept my word. So I wasn’t surprised when they (La Salle) decided to reveal it to the public."
Two other board members were surprised of Rendon’s revelation, although Far Eastern University representative Anton Montinola said he accepts the UAAP head’s explanation.
Felicitas Francisco, one of the most senior members of the board, said she has heard some rumors following the end of the 68th basketball season, although she was unaware which school was involved.
"Nadidinig ko lang yung mga ganung balita pero ngayon, sila (La Salle) na ang nagsasabi na ibabalik nila yung trophy," she said.
Montinola said he believes that Fr. Rendon made the decision for the "best interest of the league."
"He (Fr. Rendon) explained that the crowd already bought the tickets so it would be difficult to stop the game. Of course, if La Salle won Game 2, they (Green Archers) wouldn’t have played Game 3. Fortunately, it didn’t have to reach that far because we wouldn’t want the season to end that way," Montinola said.
Montinola appealed to everyone concerned to allow La Salle to finish its own internal investigation of the case involving its ineligible player.
"We expect that by the time the board meets next month, La Salle’s investigation would be complete and the board would be able to make the decision based on the evidence to be presented," he added.
UAAP Commissioner Joe Lipa, who ran the day-to-day operation of the league, said he was not informed of La Salle’s letter,
Lipa said he had no inkling that a potential collegiate scandal was waiting to spill over during the championship series between Far Eastern and La Salle.
"Nobody brought it to my attention. We were so involved in handling the technical and operational aspects of the series that we weren’t looking elsewhere," said Lipa, adding he learned about the incident only in the newspapers.
Lipa said he’s willing to give his views on the controversy only if the board asks for it.
Meanwhile, La Salle continues to keep the investigation under wraps.
La Salle’s executive vice president Carmelita Quebengco has been designated to release the school’s official statement on the issue.
