Besides giving a home to volleyball players, another reason the Premiere Volleyball League and the Spikers’ Turf will turn pro is that in just five years’ time, there will no longer be student-athletes from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines playing there.
“That’s one of the reasons why. Irrelevant na ito if we are relying on collegiate players. Hindi naman sila papayagan eventually,” said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.
In a resolution by the UAAP last Season 81 and implemented in Season 82, all team sports student-athletes from the batch that entered the league in Season 82 and onwards are no longer allowed to play in commercial leagues as individuals.
Student-athletes from events like basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, and football will only get to play in commercial leagues like the Philippine Baseball League (PBL), PBA D-League, MPBL, and PSL if they are playing for their school.
By Season 86, there will be no UAAP student-athletes competing in “semi-professional” leagues and tournaments.
On the other hand, student-athletes who entered the league prior to Season 82 can still play in clubs as individuals.
Playing as an individual in commercial leagues will automatically forfeit their eligibility.
The spirit of the ruling which was initiated by University of the East and National University is to protect the value of amateurism, the student-athlete, and the school.
Student-athletes will no longer be forced to enter into contracts that compel them to play for a specific club during or after their collegiate careers.
Schools, on the other hand, will no longer have to worry about their student-athlete splitting time with training with two teams that also affects their academic life.
This is also on top of the league’s stance on playing in leagues regulated by the Games and Amusements Board.
Even with the existence of a special guest license, student-athletes of the UAAP cannot play in the PBA, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, WNBL, PVL, PFL, and NBL. Doing so also forfeits the student-athlete’s eligibility.
Last month, GAB and the Philippine Sports Commission also drew the line between professional and amateur leagues with the Joint Resolution No. 2020-01.
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