Here’s why we won’t see the top UAAP stars declare for the PBA Season 50 Draft.
Amid the impending deadline for the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft applications, the UAAP will be standing firm with its long-standing rules on amateurism.
UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag made this confirmation on Wednesday, August 27, following the PBA’s appeal to the UAAP to let its players enter the draft in the middle of the collegiate basketball season.
With two days to go before the PBA deadline, Saguisag explained that a thorough review is needed before the UAAP comes to a sound decision, especially with league-wide implications that could come with a potential rule change.
“We have to politely decline at least for this season na hindi namin mapagbibigyan ‘yung request na magpa-draft ‘yung players in the midst, or actually even before the basketball season begins. Medyo marami siyang implications eh,” Saguisag said during a UAAP Season 88 press conference held at UST’s Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BGPOP) Building.
“Kailangan careful study with all the implications, not just for basketball. But for all sporting events in the future. Kailangan consistent siya.”
Leading this year’s graduating class are the likes of UST’s Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao, DLSU’s Mike Phillips, UP’s Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea and Harold Alarcon, and NU’s Steve Nash Enriquez, Jake Figueroa, and Jolo Manansala.
While these seniors can still apply for the draft, it will come at the cost of their amateur status ahead of Season 88 due to the league’s current regulations in place.
Outside of the collegiate basketball scene, it was also this rule that prohibited Alyssa Solomon from pushing through with her Korean V-League draft application a few months back.
“Wala kaming pinagbabawalan, it’s just that our rules, right now is that if you go to the draft, you forego your eligibility. So ang request is pagbigyan, and medyo malapit na kasi [Season 88], and marami siyang epekto sa ibang sporting events natin, so hindi siya mapagbibigyan muna,” Saguisag explained.
“For review ito, but we committed na ni-refer namin sa committee for a really deep study on all its implications across all our sporting events. Mga twenty sporting events din ‘yun.”
Like Saguisag, UST-Institute of Physical Education and Athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. assured that the UAAP isn’t completely closing its doors on a possible rule change, while also emphasizing the need for a review on their rules toward amateurism.
“So, once we decide something about this request, it has an effect on other sports,” Cansancio said. ”We need time kasi medyo short ang time na binigay sa amin, so we need time to discuss more about this proposal moving forward.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.