New UAAP rule is 'final'; Ateneo, UP voted against it

It’s all about reaping what you sow.

The UAAP Board approved Monday the amendments on eligibility rules concerning UAAP high school players who will transfer to another member school to play in the seniors’ ranks.

Under the revised eligibility rule, high school players who will transfer and bring their act to another UAAP-affiliated school will have to undergo a two-year residency. Currently, there is a one-year residency which can be waived if the student's original school releases him unconditionally. The new rule no longer allows waiving of the residency period.

Sought by Yahoo! Philippines Wednesday afternoon, National University’s Junel Baculi, a member of the league’s amendments committee, shared the reasons behind the intriguing development.

“Pinarehas na namin ‘yung residency ng mga high school players transferring to another UAAP school sa mga college players na lumilipat rin sa ibang member schools. Bale, tag two-year residency na ang ganyang case,” he said.

Baculi, who also serves as NU’s athletic director, disclosed that the Board approved the recommendation by virtue of a 5-2 count.

Among those who voted ‘Yes’ were Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, University of the East and La Salle while Ateneo and University of the Philippines were against.

NU, as this season’s host, abstained from voting, according to Baculi.

Baculi stated that the rule “will be effective immediately for next season and it’s already final.”

RELATED: UAAP fans take to Twitter following new eligibility rule
 
Blue Eagles up in arms
 
Ateneo’s athletic director Ricky Palou, meanwhile, sounded regretful with the new policy, saying: “Ateneo and UP went against the rule but, unfortunately, we were outvoted.”

Armed with one of the most aggressive recruitment programs in the country owing to their wealthy benefactors, Ateneo has no other choice but to respect the decision, with a heavy heart.

“Kawawa ang mga bata (na gustong maglaro sa Ateneo). But what can I do? We just have to respect the decision of the Board and move on,” said Palou.

Palou added the Blue Eagles’ programs will not endure most of the impact, saying: “Hindi naman lahat ng (high school) recruits namin galing sa UAAP. Most of them are coming from the provinces and other leagues. But occasionally, there are some players (from co-UAAP school) who want to play for us. Overall, I don’t think it will have a big impact on our recruitment program,” he related.

Among those expected to be hit hardest with the modified rule is heady playmaker Jerie Pingoy, a two-time UAAP juniors MVP who helped the FEU Baby Tamaraws snap a 25-year title drought this season. FEU and Ateneo are reportedly in a tug-of-war for the services of Pingoy.

“He has to abide with the rule. If he decides to play with us, he’ll be playing on 2015,” shared Palou.
 
‘It’s not a rule, but a punishment’
 
As far as Ronnie Dizer, the dean of the UP College of Human Kinetics and also a member of the UAAP Board is concerned, the modified rule is more of a penalty imposed on the league’s high school players.

“It’s not a rule, it’s more of punishing them,” Dizer stated to Yahoo! Philippines in a phone interview. “Personally, I opposed the amendments because that will affect majority of the sports not only basketball.

“I believe it estranges the right of the students from transferring to a school that offers better quality of education. Ang argument kasi namin ng Ateneo,  UAAP takes pride to maintain high quality education of the student- athletes. The basic principles why the league was founded were education, amateurism, and to develop a league that will be a source of national players. ‘Yung new policy, it goes against the very foundation kaya nagkaro’n ng UAAP.  Nagde-deviate sa philosophy and mission ng liga,” he pointed out.

Dizer also added high school players are not indebted to their mother schools since they have “donned their colors and gamely represented them in different tournaments.”

“‘Yung mga high school players, bayad na sila sa inyo by representing your school. Since they’re looking for a better quality of education, sana ibigay ‘yun ng kanilang school. That’s one of their human rights. They’re students first before athletes. Ibigay natin ‘yung karapatan sa anak at sa kanilang magulang. Kaso ang mangyayari, parang mapaparusahan pa sila kahit nakapag-serve na sila sa school,” Dizer added.

And what repercussions this modified rule may bring?

“We’ll be pushing athletes away. Dahil sa bagong policy, pupunta na lang sila sa ibang liga like NCAA. As a whole, the rule is more of a disadvantage for the league. Nawawala ‘yung competitive balance and democratic atmosphere,” noted Dizer.