University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag has revealed that the league’s Board of Managing Directors has yet to receive any application from any of its student-athletes for a ‘Special Guest License.’
“In general, wala pang nag-a-apply sa amin,” he told Power & Play.
Though not going into specifics, this means that when Juan Gomez de Liaño played for Nueva Ecija in pro league Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, the SGL issued to him by the Games and Amusements Board did not go through the league.
The SGL is a temporary license, usually lasting a few months, that allows amateur players to compete in pro leagues.
GAB legal division head Atty. Elmer Benitez bared last week that student-athletes applying for an SGL must first notify the school of their intention to join a pro league. The school will forward it to the UAAP, who will then endorse it to GAB.
“In general, we were made aware of the GAB resolution regarding the special guest license. However, may mga conditions dun. First of which is the certification coming from the athletic association that the athlete is a bonafide player, and… It is one of the documents passed to GAB before a special guest license can be issued,” said Saguisag, who is a councilor in Makati as well.
“Isa ‘yun sa important documents.”
Since neither University of the Philippines nor Gomez de Liaño took that important step, this means he has lost his UAAP eligibility. GDL played in one leg in the pro 3×3 league last October 21.
In three years in UP, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 12.43 points, 6.06 rebounds, and 3.28 assists in 46 games played.
This is also on top of the league’s current stand on playing in GAB-sanctioned leagues.
Unlike the NCAA which will honor SGLs, the UAAP remains firm on its stand that its student-athletes cannot participate in pro leagues unless it’s for the national team or if the team is school-based.
“As we speak, we don’t look at the special guest license.
“Para sa amin as a league, if you play in a professional league, then you lose your eligibility to participate in the UAAP. Sabi naman ng GAB, it’s a case-to-case basis. Sabi naman namin, we will see. Ang importante dun ‘yung undertaking eh. Pinaka-importante is that they will not receive any revenue generation kasi hindi natin alam maabuso ‘yung ganiyan,” continued Saguisag, who had a meeting with GAB Chairman Baham Mitra last November 13.
Regarding the soon-to-be non-existent “semiprofessional” leagues, Saguisag shared the league will no longer allow its student-athletes from team sports who were recruited from Season 82 onwards to compete in those types of leagues as individuals.
“The UAAP already took a stand with regards to that. Sabi namin, from Season 82 onwards, kahit commercial leagues hindi na kayo puwede maglaro. Except for those who were recruited prior to Season 82 because we don’t want any retroactive application,” he explained.
“‘Pag nakalaro ka na dati, puwede. But if you were recruited in Season 82, mamili ka.”
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