Recruitment is always a chore. Why wouldn’t it be? Schools need to find the finest athletes to represent their school. The prestigious UAAP crown has always been in tough contention. (If you haven’t heard yet, De La Salle University was right on our tails last season. We somehow escaped with a slim six-point cushion.)
UST coaches usually search high and low for undiscovered, potential athletes. They exert all means—provincial visits, referrals, and walk-in applications—just to find the missing pieces in their teams.
Certain schools, however, do not even try to search far. It seems that they lasso Tiger athletes one by one with a whole shebang of benefits.
Maybe the University cannot afford all those, but isn’t the fact that UST is the undisputed, top collegiate sporting institution reason enough for athletes to stay and aspirants to flock the tryouts?
Apparently not.
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We’ve heard stories of promising Tiger Cubs transferring lairs. While some of them independently decide to study in other schools, some are “encouraged” to make the switch.
“Athlete piracy” is prevalent but the UAAP Board has no concrete rules about it. This is because athletes do not only go to universities to play, but, more importantly, to study.
Then again, there are some senior UST athletes who suddenly decide to enroll in other universities mid-year. Now something is definitely fishy in this scenario.
A University official admitted that UST has long been a “victim” of this situation, but it is not fighting back. Why isn’t the University doing anything if it seriously wants to edge out other schools for UAAP supremacy? If the University still turns a blind eye in this scenario, then it won’t be such a surprise to see DLSU or University of the Philippines (UP) thrash our beloved school for the UAAP crown.
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And whatever happened to loyalty? Whatever happened to simply playing for the love of the game?
Indeed, the IPEA cannot force athletes to stay if they do not want to. Ultimately, it is the athlete’s decision, his moral judgment. They think and decide what is best for their careers, whether they are “encouraged” by other schools or not. It is their right to choose.
UST is a reputable institution of academics and athletics. Ensuring a quality sports program (training, facilities, recruitment diagram, benefits) is in order so that athletes won’t even think twice of leaving the Pontifical University. Or if athletes decide to exit, the University need not look far for replacements.
As a basketball coach once said, the greatest incentive that athletes receive is school pride. And there is nothing like an athlete who is willing to play for the school, no questions asked.
Best of luck to the UST Volleyball teams, which are playing their Season 68 opening games on July 17 at the UP Human Kinetics Gym.
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Kudos to all Thomasian athletes!
Amid trials, controversies, and mounting opposition, I say this can still be our year.
