The University of the East’s Precious Momowei. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA — The University of the East (UE) is in danger of competing sans Precious Momowei anew as they head into a crucial bout against Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday.

The Red Warrirors' foreign student-athlete is expected to serve a one-game suspension after he was called for two unsportsmanlike fouls in their 76-67 defeat versus the University of Santo Tomas on Saturday.

READ: UST escapes UE, adds to Red Warriors’ second-round woes

Momowei was hit with the calls after he inadvertently elbowed UST's Mo Tounkara in the first quarter, and Gelo Crisostomo in the fourth quarter, and this resulted in him being ejected from the playing court with still 5:13 left in the bout.

Mo Tounkara after being inadvertently hit by Precious Momowei’s elbow. Photo from UAAP Media.

However, the 6-foot-9 star insisted that his elbows on Tounkara and Crisostomo were purely unintentional, which is why he is hoping for the calls to be reversed.

"I hope they accept the appeal. The foul wasn't intentional," he told a few reporters after the game, while also explaining what happened specifically on the second foul that threw him out of the playing court.

"I was going for a lay-up, and honestly, I was expecting an and-one. I must have dropped my elbow [on Crisostomo], but it was unintentional," he stressed.

Gelo Crisostomo after being inadvertently hit by Precious Momowei’s elbow. Photo from UAAP Media.

After the game, Momowei also went on to reach out to both players by personally going to the Growling Tigers' locker room and offering his apologies.

"He's a nice kid, so for sure, he doesn't mean na masaktan [yung players ng UST]. Accident talaga," said UE head coach Jack Santiago after the game, while also confirming that they will be appealing his big man' case.

"The school will write a letter regarding Momowei, pero ‘di natin alam what will be final decision," he added.

This is already the second time that Momowei is set to serve a suspension, which would disqualify him from winning any individual awards.

In Season 86, Momowei, despite being the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award, did not get any citations due to being handed the same fate by the UAAP.

Coincidentally, it was also a game against Ateneo wherein he served his suspension.

READ: UE's Momowei to miss crucial game vs. Ateneo after 1-game ban

"Hindi naman kami bago sa ganun. Last season, we faced Ateneo without him also. But ang maganda diyan, we saw the other players step up. Hopefully, by next game, madala pa rin nila yun," said Santiago.

"We're gonna practice sa Monday na yung rotation namin wala si Precious Momowei. We are hopeful that the decision will be in our favor, but at the end of the day, we still need to prepare. Ateneo is out of contention already, but for sure, they want to finish the season strong."

Last year, UE also appealed their suspension, but the decision of the UAAP was not in the Red Warriors' favor.

READ: UAAP execs shed light on officiating concerns, Momowei suspension

UE eventually missed the Final Four of Season 86, which is why despite going up against an already-eliminated Blue Eagles side on Wednesday, Santiago wants his team to take them seriously to finally turn their fortunes around. 

"Yun yung lagi kong sinasabi ko sa mga players when we started the second round, mas nakakatakot yung teams na wala nang pressure," he said. "We just need to weather the storm, and hopefully, sa Wednesday maayos na."

RELATED VIDEO: