THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has officially approved a revised residency rule for student-athletes transferring from one member school to another at the collegiate level.
This development was announced by UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag and the league’s Board of Managing Directors during the Season 87 press conference held at the Novotel on Wednesday.
Under the new regulation, student-athletes who transfer between UAAP member schools will still be required to sit out one year, as before. However, the revised rule will now deduct two years from their eligibility.
The new rule will be effective starting the 2024-25 school year and will be applicable across all collegiate sports.
“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,” said Atty. Saguisag.
He further clarified, “In simpler terms, the residency period will remain the same but only the playing years of the transferee will be affected.”
This change means that a UAAP freshman who transfers to a different member school will have only two remaining playing years at their new university while a sophomore will only have a year remaining to play for his or her new school if he or she decides to transfer.
Meanwhile, the league is set to launch its 87th season with an expanded basketball tournament featuring three divisions: collegiate men’s, collegiate women’s, and junior high school boys’ basketball.
The first semester of the basketball tournaments will see six games played each game day, starting with the junior high school basketball matchups, followed by women’s games, and concluding with men’s action.
UAAP Season 87 will commence on Saturday, September 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Season host University of the Philippines has planned an extraordinary opening ceremony featuring some of the university’s brightest talents, headlined by the legendary OPM band Eraserheads.
UAAP Season 87 President and UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, LLM said, “Our opening ceremony is a celebration of the spirit of unity amid rivalry that defines the UAAP. This year, we aim to celebrate not only the competitive edge of our universities but also the camaraderie and a shared passion that brings us together. The performance by the Eraserheads, along with other talented artists from UP, will be a memorable highlight as we embark on a season that truly embodies our theme of unity. We look forward to a season where the excitement of the games and the warmth of our community create an unforgettable experience for everyone.”
The season opener will feature a highly anticipated match between Katipunan rivals, the UP Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
The second day of the basketball tournaments will be packed with action, featuring 11 games across two venues.
All juniors high school boys’ games, as well as the women’s matches between Ateneo and UP and De La Salle University and National University, will take place at the Adamson Gym.
Meanwhile, the Smart Araneta Coliseum will host the men’s and women’s games between University of the East and University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University and Far Eastern University, as well as the men’s game between La Salle and NU.
All fans and viewers alike can watch all the men’s and women’s games LIVE on free-to-air via One Sports on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All games, including the high school boys basketball, will be broadcasted LIVE exclusively on the UAAP Varsity Channel in high definition and the Pilipinas Live app, including video-on-demand and available globally for UAAP fans.
With the UAAP and its collegiate action the most anticipated each year, Cignal TV is excited to roll out its broadcast campaign: ‘Legends Start Here’ – pertaining to the memorable matches, performances, and rivalries that surround the country’s premier varsity league each season.
