CONSIDER it a victory for the UAAP, as the men's basketball coaches gave an overwhelming approval to the league's decision to allow two foreign student-athletes (FSAs) to be included in each team's pool starting next year.
“For all sports, teams can have two foreign student-athletes in their pool, but only one can be part of the active roster at a time, with the other on reserve," said UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag in a release, formalizing the news broken by SPIN.ph which will see the pools extended beginning Season 89.
READ: Big UAAP rule change coming next season. Find out what
Under this rule change, teams can have two FSAs on their rosters and have them be interchangeable on a game-to-game basis.
For basketball, it means that the current pool will be increased from 16 to 17, with two spots allocated for FSAs. However, only 16 players, including one FSA will still be allowed per scheduled game.
A-ok from coaches
SPIN.ph asked the current batch of shot-callers about the move and they gave two thumbs up.
"I think it's good for the league," said La Salle coach Topex Robinson. "For parity din. No one wants to have their FSAs injured, but that gives them a little bit of leeway so that they can still remain competitive."
Far Eastern University coach Sean Chambers seconded that thought, noting, "I think it's great for all teams and it just makes the league stronger."
The rule change stemmed from NU's misfortunes last Season 87 when its FSA Mo Diassana got injured at the midway point of the first quarter of its first game, rendering the Bulldogs undermanned for the remainder of the tournament.
"I think it is fair na magkaroon ng two FSAs," responded University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde. "Halos one year ka din nag-prepare tapos 'pag may nangyaring injury na ganyan, mas mababawasan yung level mo to compete with other teams na may FSA. So I think it's just din to have that for the teams."
In the same grain, it also challenges the locals who are already getting tested by defending and playing with FSAs.
"Ok lang yun with me as long as there are still 15 locals to play for every game," Adamson coach Nash Racela said.
"Having two foreign student-athletes per team will definitely raise the level of competition and push our locals to elevate their game," said University of the East coach Chris Gavina. "But we also have to make sure we strike a balance, so our homegrown talents still get the opportunities to grow. If managed well, it can help Philippine basketball as a whole."
Currently, almost all UAAP teams have multiple FSAs in their pool ready to maximize the rule change next season.
The Fighting Maroons have Francis Nnoruka and Dikachi Ududo; the Green Archers have Henry Agunnane and Moses Mandiria; the Soaring Falcons have OJ Ojarikre and Alou Gaye; the Tamaraws have Mo Konateh and Montell Shelton; National U has Diassana and Omar John; and University of Santo Tomas has Collins Akowe, Racine Kane, and Peter Osang
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