This Tudela said after he was not able to provide sufficient documents that will prove one of his team players is not overage.
It is said that the Sonics player in question was already beyond the age limit set by the Rotary caging league.
The unidentified Sonics player is said to have turned 19 a couple of months ago which made him overage for the league.
Rotary youth caging league is open only to 18 and under players.
Tudela explained his player was only able to submit to him a birth certificate to prove his real age, saying he tried to furnish BANMI with the said document but he was told that this was not sufficient proof.
Rangamar, in an earlier interview, said he has asked Tudela to provide original passport and driver’s license of the young Sonics player.
Tudela said he could not show the association passport because the boy has not been off island for a single instance.
Besides, the Sonics coach said, the boy does not have a driver’s license yet.
Rangamar handed down his decision to Tudela by sending him a letter, informing his team that BANMI is forfeiting Sonics’ five wins in the league, and banned the Sonics player in question for the duration of the league matches.
Tudela disclosed that he did not receive a letter from BANMI until today.
He also mentioned that he hears that other teams in the league also have some players who are overage but are not being probed.
He said that despite this information that came across his way, he will not try to file some complaints, saying he “does not want to deal with sports politics.”
Sonics team will not be affected with the loss of five wins and a player, Tudela told Variety in an interview after losing a game with Sixers on Thursday last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
“We have to move on,” Tudela added, saying they will try their best to win their remaining games. “Losing one player wouldn’t affect the team’s [morale].”
“We still have a chance to step into the finals,” he said, pointing out his team’s two wins.
The Sonics coach considers his team first loss with Sixers was their first loss in the league should only BANMI did not forfeit their wins.
With Sonics’ game forfeits, Tudela said he will be more stringent in screening new players to avoid any issues with BANMI in the future.
