With the UAAP Season 88 opening slated Sept. 19 and the PBA Draft set for Sept. 7, Executive Director Rebo Saguisag deemed it prudent to review possible implications first before allowing players to join the draft midseason.
The UAAP had to politely decline PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial’s request to allow their players to join the rookie Draft while still playing in the collegiate league.
UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag bared this following the press conference for the upcoming Season 88 on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
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“Hindi namin mapagbibigyan yung request na pag bigyan magpa-draft yung players in the midst — or actually even before the basketball season begins. Medyo marami siyang implications eh,” Saguisag said.
“Even to our most recent rulings siyempre maaapektuhan yan. So kailangan careful study with all the implications not only for basketball but for all sporting events in the future saka pati most recent ones. Kailangan consistent siya in all our regulations.”
Per UAAP rule, a player who applies for the PBA Draft automatically forgoes his eligibility.
Saguisag said the proposal came so close to Season 88 and with the draft deadline, which is set Friday, Aug. 29.
But the premier collegiate league is not completely shutting the door on the proposal that would have allowed players like UST’s Forthsky Padrigao and La Salle’s Mike Phillips to throw their names into the PBA Season 50 Draft set early next month.
The most Saguisag could do right now is refer it to the committee for further study.
“Hindi ko mapagbibigyan muna at least for this season. But we committed na i-refer sa committee for a really deep study on all its implications across all our sporting events,” he said.
The UAAP officially opens the new collegiate season on Sept. 19, while the PBA Draft is schedule for Sept. 7.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)