UAAP board decides: Just one UAAP foreign cager next year

Only one foreign player will be allowed for each team next year as the UAAP moves to limit the number of foreigners in the men’s basketball tournament.

UAAP secretary-treasurer Rod Roque said the new rule will cover all sports starting Season 78 with the objective of developing local talents.

“Soon, there will be no more foreign players,” Roque said during the PSA Forum yesterday at Shakey’s Malate.

Under present rules, teams are allowed two foreign players who have served a two-year residency. They can only be fielded one at a time, though.

Roque said the residency rule—which requires UAAP high school players who chose to transfer to another member-school for college to sit out for two seasons—may soon be scrapped.

Also in the works are the standardization of athletes’ benefits and the adjustment of the playing years. The league may add one more playing year in high school or college as the country’s education system shifts to the K-12 program.