UAAP aims to extend eligibility for fifth-year and overage athletes

Thirdy Ravena of the Ateneo Blue Eagles soars for a layup during the finals of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s basketball (Arvin Lim/sports.abs-cbn.com)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

With Season 83 still unlikely, the UAAP Board of Managing Directors is planning to extend the eligibility of fifth-year and overage players whose last season was cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Francis Diaz, the board representative of the University of the Philippines, said that they are aiming to do such move as soon as possible so that the Board of Trustees will approve the proposal in time.

“All the fifth-year players, for as long as they will still be enrolled this coming school year, they will be allowed to play,” Diaz said.

All UAAP student-athletes are only allowed to have five playing seasons and will have to abide by the 25-age-limit to be made eligible.

“Yan yung mas madaling tanggapin, kasi how can you call it a playing year kung hindi sila naglaro?” said UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag.