CEBU CITY — The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) will follow the UAAP’s lead and put a limit of one foreign player per member school.
Spin.ph learned about this from Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy on Tuesday evening, shortly after news broke out on the UAAP’s move to cut the number of foreign players from two to one per team.
[See UAAP begins gradual ban on foreign players, puts cap of one per team starting next season]
"Well, if they're going to have just one import, then we'll also implement the same rule here. We already agreed upon that with the league's board members last year pa," said Tiukinhoy of the move that is set to be made official once he gets official correspondence from the UAAP of their recent ruling.
The longtime commissioner bared that in a board meeting last year, the school owners discussed about following the NCAA's move to stop the recruitment of foreign players. However, they decided against it since the UAAP was still fielding in imports.
"If we did that, then we will be put at a disadvantage against the UAAP teams in the PCCL. So we decided to just follow the UAAP's ruling. So here we are now with this development. For as long as there are foreign players in the UAAP, then we will still have them. If there are already none, then we won't have them anymore," added Tiukinhoy.
The move is expected to ruffle feathers especially with the Cesafi's powerhouse squads.
Reigning champion Southwestern University has four in its fold in Mythical Five member Landry Sanjo, Bendly Valdor and reserves Justin Aboude and Mupungo Boko. Runner-up University of San Carlos has two in Shooster Olago and Espoir Toyambi, while third placer University of the Visayas boast of Jean Mpouma and Jeffakins Aguara.
Cesafi will also put a stop to the recruitment of foreign players starting next year and will have eligible imports merely play out their eligibility.
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