Perasol was suspended for three games for his outburst in the second half of their game against Ateneo. #BoPerasolReturns #UAAP82

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) reduced the three-game ban of University of the Philippines (UP) head coach Bo Perasol to two after issuing an apology for his actions in their game against Ateneo de Manila University.

Perasol personally talked to UAAP commissioner Jensen Ilagan and was remorseful of his behavior towards the game officials in their 63-89 loss to the Blue Eagles at the end of the first round of the men’s basketball competition.

“In a meeting last 12 October, UP Fighting Maroons’ head coach Bo Perasol expressed his sincere apology towards the UAAP and its officials and showed evident humility,” Ilagan said in a statement.

“This office hereby lifts the third game suspension of Mr. Perasol, therefore, he may return to his coaching duties effective immediately, including the next scheduled game of the UP Maroons.”

Ilagan added that Perasol had also apologized to referee Jamie Rivano, whom he said was only performing his task as a game official.

With the lifting of the third game suspension, Perasol will be back calling the shots for the Fighting Maroons just in time for their pivotal clash against the University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Perasol was suspended for three games for his outburst in the second half of their game against Ateneo.

He missed the first two games of UP in the second half and chief deputy Ricky Dandan took over.

The Fighting Maroons were 1-1 without Perasol as they continue to hold the No. 2 spot with a 6-3 win-loss mark.

Initially, UP wanted just a one-game suspension, according to its board representative Kiko Diaz, citing the league rule that an ejection would mean automatic one-game suspension.

But Ilagan and his technical committee stuck with their earlier decision, forcing the Fighting Maroons to elevate the case to the Board of Trustees, which was also denied.

With Dandan calling the shots, UP lost to Far Eastern University on 6 October, 79-82, in overtime and won over the University of the East on 12 October, 78-75.