Eagles eye board OK for Cani’s UAAP stint

ATENEO hopes Hubert Cani gets to take the floor in the UAAP men’s basketball opening weekend as it pushes for the inclusion of the prized recruit in the Blue Eagles’ roster.

Ricky Palou, Ateneo’s representative to the UAAP Board, said yesterday it’s only “reasonable” to field Cani this season after President Aquino signed Republic Act No. 10676—also known as the Student-Athletes Protection Act—which includes the scrapping of the two-year residency rule for student-athletes.

“The reason why that law was passed is because the rule is not fair and unjust for student-athletes,” said Palou. “They passed the law, so why are we still sticking to the old rule?”

The league requires a UAAP high school player who transfers to another member-school for college to sit out for two years.

Ateneo hopes the UAAP board changes its mind when it convenes Tuesday.

Cani, a former National University juniors standout, already sat out for one year. The board recently ruled that the bill cannot be applied retroactively and declared Cani ineligible for this year.

The new law, however, includes a repealing clause that states any “rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions” of the law should be “repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.”

Ateneo opens its campaign versus last season’s runner-up Far Eastern University on Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.