.jpg)
A MEMBER of the UAAP amendments committee has urged his colleagues to carefully look into the implementing guidelines of the new rule requiring a two-year residency for high school graduates transferring to another UAAP school amid a backlash from both players and fans.
La Salle board representative Henry Atayde confirmed that the new residency period for high school transferees, which on the amendments committee's suggestion was raised from one to two years, has already been agreed upon “in principle” by the board.
However, Atayde admitted there are several kinks in the new rule that still need to be ironed out.
“May proseso ‘yan. Inapprove na ‘yan ng board pero masyado pang maraming concerns and loopholes na hindi napag-uusapan,” Atayde said to Spin.ph.
“As a member of the UAAP board and the amendments committee, we still have to draft different guidelines and IRR because it has a lot of different intricacies,” Atayde added.
According to insiders, the board voted 5-2 on Tuesday to pass the new rule, with Ateneo and University of the Philippines the only dissenters.
The new rule is expected to alter the career plans of several high school prospects in the UAAP like Jerie Pingoy, who was expected to join Ateneo next season after completing his high school studies at Far Eastern University.
But with the new rule in place, Pingoy is faced with a tough choice.
If he chooses to transfer to Ateneo, Pingoy will only be eligible to play in the UAAP in 2015. But if the Cebuano hotshot and two-time UAAP juniors MVP opts to remain with FEU, he can play in the league next season.
Still, Ateneo remains confident Pingoy will push through with his plan to move to Katipunan, even if it means sitting out for the next two seasons, a top sports official of the school said.
Atayde said the amendments committee is actually batting for an across-the-board two-year residency for all transferees, including those already in college and from other countries.
Under present rules, a college transferee needs to sit out for two years unless he gets a clearance from his previous school. If the athlete gets a clearance, only a one-year residency period is required.
“Some schools, whether you like it or not, two years talaga. Pero ‘yung ibang eskwela, one year. Nagiging subjective tuloy ‘yung pag-rerelease ng athlete,” Atayde explained.
News of the new rule, which Spin.ph broke on Tuesday, has triggered a debate on social networking sites, with players like Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena leading the outcry.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
