UAAP presidents to step in?

There is news that the UAAP school presidents will finally get involved in the policy-making of the league. For years, the UAAP has been controlled by a Board of Trustees made up of representatives of the eight member schools, each wrestling and haggling to protect their parochial interests. That’s why, rules change on a yearly basis, depending on the whims of the host school and the bargains that the representatives wangle.

What’s so disheartening is how the UAAP Board has sometimes disregarded the rights of student athletes to cripple the chances of a school to be a championship contender. A clear example was the UAAP Board’s decision to impose a two-year residency on FEU high school basketball star Koko Pingoy for transferring to Ateneo as a freshman. That rule prompted another two-year imposition, this time on La Salle’s Ben Mbala for moving from Southwestern University to La Salle. Under the previous rule, Mbala would’ve sat out only a year but in retaliation for La Salle’s vote to freeze Pingoy, the rule on foreign players was passed. Of course, every school in the UAAP benefited from Mbala’s two-year sitout except La Salle. The two-year sitout later stretched to three with Mbala’s violation of a residency rule.

Pingoy’s collegiate career is now in a shambles. He sat out two years with Ateneo then played a season that was cut short by an injury. Pingoy was later struck out of the lineup for academic issues. He again sat out this season to gain eligibility at Adamson. So when Pingoy suits up for the Falcons next season, he would’ve missed three whole years of playing in college. Fortunately, Sen. Pia Cayetano saw this injustice and authored a bill to allow every high school athlete the freedom to choose his or her college without serving any residency. So the UAAP rule imposing a two-year residency on a fresh high school graduate transferring from one UAAP school to another has been abrogated.

But because Mbala is a foreigner, Sen. Cayetano’s law doesn’t cover him. So the two-year rule on foreign athletes to establish eligibility remains. The rule stipulates a foreign student athlete must be enrolled for two years in the UAAP school where he hopes to play, regardless of how long he or she has stayed in the country. According to a UAAP source, the rule applies only to college transferees.

The participation of the UAAP presidents in the Board, starting January, should put an end to the horsetrading, unfair rule changes, scratch-my-back-scratch-your-back agreements and other shenanigans that were traditional in previous Boards. The school representatives in the Board of Trustees will be reappointed to compose a new Board of Managing Directors presumably to oversee the league’s day-to-day affairs.

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Sen. and Senate Committee on Sports chairman Manny Pacquiao has given the assurance that he’ll craft a bill to address the problems in sports and when it’s ready, he’ll call for a hearing to summon the same officials who appeared in a session with him presiding two weeks ago. The indication is Pacquiao will push for the creation of a Department of Sports where the head is a secretary of cabinet rank. The ball is now in Pacquiao’s hands and he’s going for the game winner. Leave it to Pacman to get the job done.

Meanwhile, Rep. Salvador Belaro and Rep. Ron Salo have filed a resolution directing the House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports Development, chaired by Rep. Conrad Estrella, “to inquire, in aid of legislation, on the alleged mismanagement and abuse of authority of the current leaders of the POC.” Belaro represents 1-Ang Edukasyon party list while Salo represents Kabayan party list.

Estrella was a member of the POC Commission on Elections that supervised the recent polls. It would be interesting to find out how he conducts the hearing with the POC officials attending when the session is called. Estrella said since Congress will be on a holiday break starting Thursday, the hearing will be set in January.

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There are eight undrafted players in PBA rosters this season. The list is made up of Rain Or Shine’s Dexter Maiquez (2014), Meralco’s Jonathan Uyloan (2009) and Bryan Faundo (2009), Blackwater’s Raymond Aguilar (2009), Mahindra’s Mark Yee (2008), Jeckster Apinan (2013) and Philip Paniamogan (2014) and Phoenix’ Chico Lanete (2006). Last season, the undrafted cast included Josh Urbiztondo, Jerwin Gaco and Franklin Bonifacio but they’re no longer in lineups for the current Philippine Cup.

As for rookies, the rosters show 29 freshmen and it’s a clear indication that teams are beefing up with young talent. The battle for roster spots is highly competitive as the league approaches a level of parity that is commissioner Chito Narvasa’s dream.

 Among the rookies are three players who weren’t drafted this year. Oping Sumalinog was in TNT’s reserve list last season but never played a game. He was TNT’s fourth round pick in the 2013 draft. Samboy de Leon and Mon Abundo were selected in the 2015 draft and they made the Star lineup as free agents this season. De Leon was Star’s fourth round pick while Abundo was Blackwater’s seventh round selection last year. Abundo is in the record books as the lowest drafted player ever signed up. He was the 51st player chosen last year – lower than 44th pick Topex Robinson and 43rd pick P. J. Simon. Both Robinson and Simon were drafted on the fifth round in 2001.