Extension of seniors’ playing year provides options for UAAP standouts

The UAAP has opened a door for this year’s graduating seniors to compete for one more year, providing an extra option for standouts who were looking to head for club leagues after the COVID-19 pandemic scrapped the remainder of Season 82.

Board member Rod Roque of University of the East told the Inquirer that the decision to extend the eligibility of seniors affected by the cancellation of Season 82 was reached in a meeting on April 30 and comes with certain prerequisites: The seniors should be students of their school, enrolled in a bachelor’s degree or a graduate school program, and must not be more than 25 years old.

This opens the doors for the likes of University of the Philippines stars Isa Molde and Tots Carlos, University of Santo Tomas captain Alina Bicar and La Salle skipper Aduke Ogunsanya to suit up for their respective schools in next season’s volleyball tournament.

“This is for the second semester sporting events, they (student athletes) can still play as long as they haven’t used up their five playing years and they’re still of age,” Roque said.

The decision also gave seniors who were looking for club teams already another option. UP football stalwarts Miggy Clariño, Kyle Magdato and JB Borlongan had already opted to leave the squad after the announced cancellation crashed their bid for the title this year.

ONE MORE YEAR? University of the Philippines’ vaunted core, led by Tots Carlos (left) and Isa Molde (top) can stay an additional year with the Lady Maroons—but with conditions—in light of the new guidelines agreed on by the UAAP board. —Sherwin Vardeleon

Other sports

Upon learning of the UAAP decision, however, Clariño said he and Magdato won’t shut the doors on another stint with the Maroons.

“With the UAAP announcement, if no pro team approaches me, then I’ll stay one more year in the UAAP,” Clariño told the Inquirer.

A source said several volleyball players were also looking to focus on club tournaments but may opt to stay for one more year.

Among the sports canceled with the implementation of the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the infection were volleyball, football, baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis, basketball 3×3, ballroom formation dance and street dance competitions.

The conditions attached to the extension of eligibility could limit the number of seniors who can return to their school squads.

NCAA opening

Kat Tolentino, who had earlier bid farewell to Ateneo, can no longer retract that decision because she will be 26 next season. Tolentino had earlier said she would forgo her final year of eligibility before changing her mind and suiting up for the Lady Eagles.

Meanwhile, a source told the Inquirer that there’s a “realistic” likelihood that the NCAA’s 96th season will be pushed to next year.

NCAA management committee chair Peter Cayco had earlier said the league’s July opening will not be feasible and that Season 96 could start in the latter months of the year.

“We may even be into the ‘ber’ months when we start the season; maybe we could start at the end of November or in December,” Cayco said in Filipino in a phone conversation with the Inquirer.

Cayco, however, stressed that the NCAA will still wait for government protocols on the opening of classes and the hosting of mass gatherings such as sporting events in light of the pandemic.

“The opening will definitely be moved back, we just don’t know when exactly,” Cayco said. “We really can’t say when exactly we can start because we’ll wait for the government’s direction on when classes can start.”

The Inquirer source, however, said opening day could start next year as uncertainty continues to hover over the country because of the pandemic.

Season 95 was canceled in March as the league heeded the government’s decision to implement enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The ECQ is expected to end on May 15, but several health experts said it could stretch longer. INQ