Baculi: New UAAP rule will address 'pirating of homegrown talents'

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is defending newly established rule where a transferring high school student will have to sit on two year residency before being eligible to play for the league.

UAAP secretary general Junel Bcauli explains that the new residency policy aims to protect the entire league and that this was unanimously approved by the UAAP board. 

"It's now two years instead of one, but we will still polish the implementing guidelines. But in concept, in principle, it was unanimously approved by the board," Baculi said in an interview with ANC's Hardball. 

He admits the new rule targets to stop the "pirating" of homegrown talents. 

"I will be frank. We dont want the member schools to pirate the so-to-speak homegrown talent because it would be detrimental to the league," he further said. 

The UAAP secretary general said this will benefit UAAP-members who want to keep their best junior players. 

He adds that this does not violate the rights of UAAP players. 

"Playing is not a right, but a privilege for every individual so you can study first for two years then play for the rest if you're playing for another university," he explained. 

The new UAAP rule earns the ire of netizens including players and former UAAP athletes. 

Ateneo cager Kiefer Ravena started the hashtag #NewUAAPRules where netizens post their criticisms of the two-year residency policy. 

@kieferravena : "Basketball is turning in the wrong direction. Instead of seeing kids use their full potential, we hinder from doing so."

Ravena was later joined by fellow Blue Eagle Nico Salva, Jeric Teng and Jeric Fortuna of UST Growling Tigers and even Sen. Pia Cayetano who was a former UAAP volleyball player for the University of the Philippines. 

@nicobesalva : "yo uaap board just let the kids play and study where ever they want to. its their right to choose their school!"

@jericfortuna : "They took away the players' freedom of choice. #UAAP"

@jericteng16 : "wow. So grade school pa lang dapat nag re recruit na talaga haha"

 ‏@piacayetano : "For now Ill say, as a former UAAP athlete (UP Vball, UAAP Champ)and a mom of athletes, I think their 2yr residency rule sucks!"

Effect

The new residency rule is effective immediately. 

Directly affected is UAAP juniors two-time MVP Jeric Pingoy who plans on transferring to Ateneo Blue Eagles from FEU Tamaraws. 

Should he decide on pursuing the blue line, he cannot play for the coming 76th season of UAAP. 

Tagalog version can be found [here]