ALYSSA Solomon has been forced to withdraw from the 2025 Korean V-League (KOVO) Asian Quota Draft following a UAAP rule restricting student-athletes from joining pro leagues.
Sources told SPIN.ph that Solomon was informed late on a decades-long league regulation which effectively blocked her entry to the KOVO Asian Quota Draft.
As published in a 2023 SPIN.ph story, a UAAP student-athlete loses his or her amateur status if engaged with at least one of the following:
- When one has used his or her sport skill or athletic skill in an athletic contest for financial remuneration.
- When one joins any draft pool in any professional league or professional sporting event.
- When one is officially included in the lineup of a team in a professional league or sporting event or commercial league not in a team.
The said rule has blocked student-athletes in years past, most notably in basketball, from applying in pro league drafts while still in the UAAP.
National U officials gave Solomon a three-day notice last Wednesday to decide whether she'll stay onboard with the Lady Bulldogs or pursue her Korean draft plans, as per sources.
On her own volition, Solomon chose to stay with NU to keep her amateur status and remain part of its ongoing bid for back-to-back championships.
Also worth noting is that Solomon is not yet a pro by virtue of applying in the Korean draft. That can only be the case if she'll be included in the final list of draft applicants - which she has now withdrawn herself from.
While an initial list has been released by KOVO last week, it isn't until the final day of draft submissions on Apr. 11 before any applicant can be considered an official draft aspirant.
READ: Solomon's sights still set on NU title defense - even with looming Korean league draft
It is an unfortunate development on Solomon’s end, as she was expected to be selected in the draft with ‘some high-profile (Korean) teams’ reportedly interested to secure her services.
SPIN.ph has yet to receive a response from UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag on the matter.
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