KEN Tuffin's remaining playing year in the UAAP remains uncertain as far as the league's Board of Managing Directors (BMD) is concerned.
League officials said the Fil-Kiwi forward's eligibility status has yet to be discussed since the Far Eastern University shooter was drafted in the New Zealand's National Basketball League (NZNBL).
"In law, we have this concept called right for adjudication," said UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag in Tuesday's online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
"At this point, I think the issue is premature kasi we don't even know if maglalaro siya sa UAAP. Em (Fernandez) would always remind me and the rest of the eligibility committee, until and when they apply for eligibility, that's the only time we can address the issue. It's premature to rule on that.
"For all we know, ayaw na niya. So why waste time on it? Wala namang official communication. It's pretty much premature to adjudication."
Tuffin, who was the Tamaraws' team captain in the last UAAP Season 82, was picked in the seventh round of the 2020 NZNBL Draft and went to the Taranaki Mountainairs.
The 23-year-old previously said that he has cleared the matter with FEU athletic director Mark Molina and Tamaraws head coach Olsen Racela, asserting that he was drafted in the semi-pro league as an amateur.
He also reiterated that he will be back to play that final year once the UAAP returns.
Outgoing UAAP president Em Fernandez of host Ateneo shared that the board has yet to hear from Molina and FEU, although he expects the matter to be raised once the BMD convenes late this month.
"Kakalabas lang ng issue na na-draft siya at di pa nagmi-meeting ang UAAP," Fernandez said. "I'm assuming it will be brought to our attention in our next meeting."
The 6-foot-5 Tuffin posted 6.6 points on a 38-percent shooting clip from downtown, on top of 3.6 rebounds last year for FEU.
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