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This is a scenario that’s fit for a movie or, at the very least, a true-to-life dramatization.
On Wed night, Nov 4, as the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles had a game against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Ateneo won, 74-65, snagging a spot in the Final Four for the men’s basketball event in the 78th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) tournament.
But Ateneo’s victory that night was somewhat marred by an unexpected incident.
As the game went on, four uniformed cops from the Quezon City Police District waited at the back of the coliseum for Ateneo player Chibueze Ikeh.
“The cops waited almost two hours for Ikeh, who was the subject of an arrest warrant arising from a complaint for the violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004) that had been filed at the QC Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 102,” report Bong Lozada and Julliane Love De Jesus on Inquirer.net.
In light of Ikeh’s arrest, Ateneo Athletics Director Emmanuel Fernandez was quoted as saying, “This is a private matter, nothing to do with Ateneo basketball, nothing to do with the UAAP.”
Fernandez went on to say that Ikeh was expected to play in Ateneo’s next game. So, we’re assuming Ikeh has posted bail.
Reports only say the domestic violence complaint against Ikeh was filed by his partner. No other details are given about the partner or the circumstances surrounding the complaint.
“Last month, Ikeh’s teammate, John Apacible, was suspended over a viral video that showed him drunk and introducing himself as a councilor to a motorist who confronted him over his behavior on the road. He has since apologized,” reports Robetzon Ramirez in The Philippine Star.
READ: Ateneo Blue Eagles player John Apacible will face ‘disciplinary actions’ for drunk driving episode
