Ateneo isn’t giving up on prized recruit Hubert Cani, the former National University Bullpups standout who was declared ineligible by the UAAP board last Monday.
Cani was banned from playing in the league’s Season 78 varsity basketball tournament despite the impending passage of the Student-Athletes Protection Bill principally authored by Sen. Pia Cayetano.
Ricky Palou, Ateneo’s representative to the UAAP board, Monday told the Inquirer that the Blue Eagles will formally appeal Cani’s case to the board, headed by Michael Tan of Season 78 host University of the Philippines.
“We are going to send a letter to the UAAP president,” said Palou.
League secretary general Ronnie Dizer of UP said Cani was declared ineligible because the board decided that the bill will have a “proactive application” on Cani’s case and “not retroactive.”
Cani has already served a one-year residency for the Blue Eagles and is hoping to join Kiefer Ravena and Jerie Pingoy in Ateneo’s backcourt this season, which opens on Sept. 5.