UAAP-NC merger gets mixed reaction

To many, merging the UAAP and the NCAA is easier said than done.

Practically all cage officials like the idea but they doubt whether this can be done, seeing too many complications that need to be resolved.

“This may be good for college basketball but a lot of work has to be done to merge the two leagues. Scheduling of games, duration of tournament, rules of both leagues are a few of the areas of concern,” said Ateneo official Ricky Palou.

“I’m for it. But how do you put together two leagues with different sets of rules. Merging the two leagues would entail a lot of hard work. Maraming egos na dapat imasahe,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

University of the Philippines, in coordination with the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is spearheading move to merge the two leagues at least for next year during the grand centennial celebration of the state university.

SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio, a UP alumnus, said he’s now preparing the proposed concept for presentation to the separate boards of the UAAP and the NCAA early next year.

“This will raise the level of amateur basketball. I personally like the idea,” said Bro. Bernie Oca, La Salle’s representative to the UAAP board.

“It’s been brought up to me by Pato (Patrick Gregorio) and it sounds big and exciting. We will wait for the formal proposal,” said outgoing NCAA management committee chairman Paul Supan.

Lim said it could be a perfect venue to decide one true collegiate champion team. But the San Beda mentor doubts very much whether the UAAP and the NCAA can resolve issues in a short span of time.

“The biggest problem is how to make the two leagues agree when they have different policies. Player eligibility pa lang nagka-clash na ang rules nila,” said Lim.

“If ever, it’s gonna be 16 teams and it’s gonna be a long season. Kapag natuloy, it’s huge. Mas mabigat ang paglalabanang bragging rights,” Lim added.

The Champions Cup is one tourney designed to decide the real champion of collegiate champions in the land. However, some teams hardly take it seriously.

Recent UAAP title protagonists La Salle and UE, for one, backed out of the 2007 Champions Cup ruled by Ateneo.

UP wants to merge the two leagues next year as part of the school’s grand centennial founding anniversary celebration. The NCAA was founded in 1924 on the initiative of Dr. Regino R. Ylanan, a UP physical education professor. The original members were UP, Ateneo de Manila, La Salle, Institute of Accounts (FEU), NU, San Beda, UST and University of Manila.

UAAP now counts UP, Ateneo, La Salle, FEU, UST, UE, NU and Adamson as its members while the NCAA has in its fold Mapua, Letran, San Sebastian, San Beda, JRU, St. Benilde, Perpetual Help and PCU. – With reports from Joey Villar