How will the UAAP respond after two young basketball players from its member schools passed away in the offseason?
Player health and safety will be one of the biggest challenges the UAAP needs to tackle ahead of Season 88 this September, especially after the death of two teen basketball players within their community over the offseason.
In light of these developments, UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag on Wednesday, August 27, shared that they are focused on ensuring more stringent pre-participation screening processes across all eight member schools.
“Sa competition side, may EMS [emergency medical services] naman kami. But we are trying to ensure that sa training, mayroon silang pre-participation screening,” Saguisag said during the UAAP Season 88 press conference held at UST’s Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BGPOP) Building.
Saguisag’s response follows the tragic losses of National University prospect Ashlyn Abong and University of the Philippines recruit Israel Friday. Abong, at 18, passed away last June 27 after collapsing during a practice session. Less than two months later, on August 19, the 19-year-old Friday suffered a similar incident with the Fighting Maroons.
For their part, State U already has plans to implement more stringent pre-participation measures, with their student-athletes being required to undergo a pre-participation medical sports evaluation (PMSE) before being cleared to join their teams.
Saguisag said that they will continue to encourage the other UAAP schools to adopt similar preventive measures moving forward.
“So papaingtingin lang. I’m sure mayroon ‘yan, but mas conscious na kami ngayon, to remind the schools in their training venues,” Saguisag said.
UAAP Season 88 opens this September 19 at the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila, with the men’s basketball tournament following suit on September 20 and 21 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.