Atty. Rebo Saguisag, the UAAP executive director, disclosed the development in the league’s Season 87 basketball kickstart press conference at Novotel in Cubao City on Wednesday, September 4.
The traditional regulation required a player transferring to a different member institution to sit out one season and forfeit one year of eligibility–five years for a true freshman–but the updated rules effectively remove two years from eligibility whilst the one-year residency applies.
“The UAAP, as a collegial body, decided that any transfer made after the academic year 2023-2024 will not only incur the usual residency requirement but will now be charged with an additional eligibility year, making it a total of two years,” Atty. Saguisag stated.
“In simpler terms, the residency period will remain the same but only the playing years of the transferee will be affected,” he added.
“Let me state for the record that all of us in this room, the welfare and interest of each and every student athlete is of paramount importance. There’s no question about that. We all agree on that and that’s the most important thing. We may have different views on how to get there, but again, allow me to state that the welfare of each and every student athlete is of paramount importance,” Atty. Saguisag furthered.
Photo courtesy: Spin PH