New law scraps UAAP 2-year residency rule

THE VULNERABILITY of homegrown talents being lured by other universities has been intensified with the enactment of a new law that “protects and promotes the rights of student-athletes.”

Republic Act No. 10676 or the “Student-Athlete Protection Act” voids the UAAP’s mandatory two-year residency, implemented in 2013, on high school student-athletes not released by their alma mater.

Section 4 of the law, enacted last Aug. 26, states that “residency shall not be imposed on a student-athlete who is a high school graduate enrolling in a college or university” while collegiate transfers would only be limited to a maximum of one-year residency.

The new law also defined the benefits a student-athlete should only receive, such as tuition, miscellaneous, lodging, learning materials, and athletic materials.

However, it left a blind spot and failed to mention a concrete limit to the benefits that a student can accept, which could be abused by competing universities.

This deepens the lingering issue of student-athlete “piracy” which points to the luxurious offers and bribery as reasons for athlete transferring to other institution.

UST’s athletic authorities declined to comment on the issue. But in a previous interview with the Varsitarian in July 2014, Fr. Emerito de Sagon O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics said the then proposed “Student-Athlete Protection Act” would not stop schools from providing excessive incentives to lure players.

“I don’t think this will solve problem because any school or university can deny the fact that they are giving excess incentives to the athletes,” de Sagon had said.

The issue became a hot topic in 2010 when Mikee Bartolome, a decorated high school swimmer trained by UST, opted to play for UP despite failing to secure clearance from UST. A temporary restraining order allowed Bartolome to compete.

The UST Female Tigersharks went on to boycott the entire competition as a protest.

Not a cause of worry

While UST has bitter memories of athlete “piracy” with Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, Dindin Santiago among others leaving the University for what could have been a dynastic Golden Tigresses, concrete evidence of such claims has yet to be recorded.

Then rookie sensation and Season 73 badminton MVP Peter Gabriel Magnaye left for NU. The Tiger Shuttlers struggled in the following years, finishing fifth last season.

Siblings Therese and Pauline Gaston also left the Tigresses in two consecutive seasons and joined the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

Therese said that it was education, not the incentives that convinced her to transfer to Ateneo but claimed that UST has “one of the finest [programs] in the country.”

“I wanted to pursue what was best for my career path which was to get my education from Ateneo. They (Ateneo) just offered me a slot in the team, monthly allowance, and full scholarship,” Gaston said in a text message to the Varsitarian.

Although a lot of these top-tier athletes left UST in the past, the Growling Tigers remains a top contending and recruiting team as athletes still see the University’s offer more beneficial, contrary to the belief that UST is just a “milking factory” of other universities.

UST has one of the best benefits when it comes to student-athlete accommodation—lodging, allowance, daily meals, advanced facilities, and an excellent medical assistance and hospital which other schools do not have.

These benefits and familiarity halted Tigershark rookie Skyler Claveria from accepting higher offers, which he decided not to disclose, from other institutions.

“Naglalaro pa ko ng third at fourth year [high school] nag-offer na ang La Salle at Ateneo pero ‘yung mindset ko mag-stay na noon,” Claveria said in an interview. “May parts na mas maganda ‘yung bigay nila pero sa UST kasi kumpleto at ‘yung nagpa-stay sa akin ay ‘yung family na nadevelop noong high school saka dahil na rin sa magandang education.”

Outside the limelight of mainstream sports, UST has nurtured a quality group of players from the province and turned them into stars.

Beach volleyball standouts Cherry Rondina and Rica Jane Rivera were both recruited from Cebu last year and won four beach volleyball titles as a duo since then. The Golden Sox, meanwhile, houses 20 players from different provinces.

Champion taekwondo team does not seem to have difficulties in finding key members as head coach and national team coach Dindo Simpao scouts possible talents from the national pool to play for UST.

Notable Tiger Cubs standout who chose to stay—Golden Tigresses Alyssa Teope and EJ Laure, Philippine National Games gold medallist Tiger Fencer Ashley Espiritu, and King Tiger Kevin Ferrer—also proved that the university takes care of its budding talents up until they reach their peak.