The Rotary caging league is open to players who are 18 years old and below.
The Sonics young player under scrutiny is said to have turned 19 last month.
In an interview in his office at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, Rangamar told Variety that after giving Sonics sufficient time to show proof of its player’s age, Coach Jessie Tudela of Sonics was not able to present anything to BANMI.
The BANMI president refused to mention the name of the young Sonics player in question.
Rangamar asked Tudela to show, at least, his player’s original passport or birth certificate but the latter failed to comply even after a given deadline.
Rangamar said he has given Coach Tudela a deadline two weeks ago and until now he has not submitted either of the documents being requested by the association.
BANMI was left with no choice but to forfeit Sonics’ five wins in the league, Rangamar said, adding he already sent a letter to the Sonics coach, informing him of the penalty.
When asked if such penalty carries with it a fine, he said no, pointing out that a five-win forfeit or deduction is already a big blow to the team.
The Sonics cager in question has been banned from the remaining matches of Sonics in the Rotary basketball league, Rangamar said.
The former leader in the team standing chart, Sonics team has been downgraded from the top to no. 8 rank today.
Sonics is now one notch higher only from Rollers II – the bottom team.
As it stands today, Junior Nationals is now on the top of the team standings list with a 5-0 win-lose card.
The other member-teams of the current Rotary youth basketball league are Junior Nationals, G-Stars, Sixers, Rollers I, Chalan Kanoa Saints, Suns, and Kontenders.
