NCAA firm on 'no-foreign player' policy

MANILA, Philippines – The NCAA on Tuesday stood firm on its decision to disallow foreign athletes from playing in all sports after Season 95 or next year.

The league cited giving the local or Filipino-blooded athletes more chances as its main reason during Tuesday’s Season 94 launch at the MOA Arena in Pasay City, which was attended by all Policy Board members led by league president Anthony Tamayo of host Perpetual Help.

“The rationale behind the policy is simple: To go back to the mandate and identity of the league, which is one of grassroots sports development of its student athletes,” the league said in a statement that was red by counsel Atty. Joseph Estrada.

“Consequently, this move is seen to give more balance on the teams and will make the games more competitive. At the level of the student-athletes, this policy is also seen to give them better opportunities to showcase their homegrown talents,” it added.

The NCAA has actually stopped recruiting foreign players on Dec. 16, 2013.

Foreigners who have been recruited before the said cutoff date were allowed to play out their years before the board has eventually decided to put it to a complete halt next year.

On the issue of potential brawls similar to what happened to the FIBA World Cup qualifying duel between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia Monday night at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Tamayo said they will undergo preventive actions to avoid it.

“We will implement stricter security if need be,” said Tamayo.

The 94th NCAA senior basketball tournament will open on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with reigning titlist San Beda clashing with host Perpetual Help at 2 p.m. and last year’s runner-up Lyceum of Philippines University battling San Sebastian at 4 p.m.

This early, all 10 coaches agreed the Lions and the Pirates are the teams to watch out for after keeping their core of their rosters from last season.

San Beda has added 6-9 Toba Eugene of Nigeria and San Beda High’s talented guard Evan Nelle to boost an already loaded core of Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, Donald Tankoua, Clint Doliguez, Jose Mari Presibetero, AC Soberano and Franz Abuda.

LPU, for its part, will parade Ranzelle Yong, a transferee from San Sebastian, to beef up an already formidable squad of reigning MVP Jaymar Perez, Mike Harry Nzeusseu, Mer Ayaay and the talented twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino.

“I’m thankful for them for saying that but I believe all the teams have also improved,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

LPU mentor Topex Robinson agrees.

“We cannot underestimate anyone. That’s the last thing we want to do,” he said.

Interestingly, the Lions will face a Perpetual Help team that tapped Frankie Lim, who steered the former to four championships more than a decade ago.

Lim said there was nothing personal.

“It just happened we’re playing each other in the opening. We’ll just play what we’ve trained for and reciprocate the confidence given us by our boss Antonio Tamayo and the whole Perpetual Help community,” said Lim.