FOREIGN student-athletes (FSA) will no longer be eligible for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the UAAP, as the league introduced a separate honor for top-performing international players in the statistical points race.
UAAP executive director Rene “Rebo” Saguisag announced during the Season 87 volleyball press conference on Thursday that, starting the second semester, only local players will be eligible to win the top individual award.
“The reason behind this is to ensure that we properly recognize both our local and international student-athletes,” Saguisag said.
The rule will apply to all sports across both the high school and college divisions, not just mainstream events such as basketball and volleyball.
In Seasons 86 and 87, DLSU’s Kevin Quiambao won the men’s basketball MVP award. Before him, FSAs dominated the race, with past winners including Cameroonian Ben Mbala (DLSU), Nigerian Bright Akuetie (UP), Beninese Soulemane Chabi Yo (UST), and the Ivory Coast-born Ange Kouame (Ateneo).
The Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, Saguisag said, will only be awarded if a foreign student-athlete finishes as the leader in events where statistical points are available.
FSAs, however, will still be eligible for other individual awards, such as Rookie of the Year — if they attended a Philippine high school — and Mythical Team honors.
UST men’s basketball FSA Mo Tounkara finished seventh in the statistical points race in Season 87 but was declared ineligible for any award due to infractions.
Meanwhile, Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao finished fifth and sixth in the MVP race, respectively.
In the upcoming volleyball season, the Golden Tigresses will be parading 6-foot-2 Blessing Unekwe as their FSA.
