Games Saturday (MOA Arena, Pasay City)
12 noon – Opening Ceremony
2 p.m. – San Beda vs Perpetual Help (Srs)
4 p.m. – LPU vs San Sebastian (Srs)
MANILA, Philippines — The NCAA yesterday stood firm on its decision to ban foreign student-athletes from playing in all sports starting in 2020, regardless of whether they have remaining playing years or not.
“The rationale behind the policy is simple: To go back to the mandate and identity of the league, which is the grassroots sports development of its student-athletes,” said the league in a statement read by counsel Joseph Estrada during yesterday’s launch of Season 94 at the MOA Arena in Pasay.
All members of the board, led by league president Anthony Tamayo of this year’s host Perpetual Help, graced the event.
The new rule is also expected to pave the way for parity in the league, making each game competitive and unpredictable.
“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,” the statement added.
The NCAA has actually stopped recruiting foreign players on Dec. 16, 2013.
Foreigners who have been recruited before the cutoff date were allowed to finish their playing years before the board decided to ban them after next year.
Meanwhile, Tamayo said the league would exhaust all preventive efforts to avoid violence in the aftermath of the tumultuous Philippines-Australia FIBA World Cup Qualifier match Monday at the Philippine Arena.
“We will implement stricter security if need be,” said Tamayo.
The 94th NCAA seniors basketball tournament will kick off Saturday with reigning titlist San Beda clashing with host Perpetual Help at 2 p.m. and last year’s runner-up Lyceum of the Phl U battling San Sebastian at 4 p.m., also at the MOA Arena.
The 10 coaches have picked the Lions and the Pirates as the teams to beat this season after keeping the core of their respective rosters.