On the Greg Slaughter issue

On the Greg Slaughter issue

by rick olivares

In a UAAP Board meeting last February 14, 2011, the subject of Aldrech Ramos and Greg Slaughter playing for Smart Gilas in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup was brought up.

Bro. Bernie Oca of DLSU read the letter from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas requesting that the two players be allowed to play with Gilas.

Dr. Lani Gonzalo of UP pointed out that Slaughter wasn’t a UAAP player. The Ateneo officials, Richard Palou and Emmanuel Fernandez said that Slaughter was enrolled and was in his residency year. Furthermore, he will suit up with the Blue Eagles for Season 74.

FEU’s Jocelyn de Leon asked if a player in his residency year is allowed to play in other leagues citing the rule that stated that “an athlete in the process of establishing residency requirements in the UAAP shall not play for another team in any league; otherwise an additional one year of residency will be required. Such an athlete may play for his university outside the UAAP.”

Palou said in the case of Slaughter, he was with the national team and that a part of the vision of the UAAP is (sec. 2) “to develop athletes of national and international caliber in support of the country’s sports development program.” Bro. Bernie concurred with the statement.

Fr. Emerito de Sagon of UST said that particular provision pertains to other leagues such as the PBL and that national team duty is an exemption.

The board approved the request.

However in the June board meeting, the FEU representative, Anton Montinola brought up the matter once more.

In the UAAP Rules and Regulations (revised as of June 2, 2010), in Section III A 2-E on residency requirements, it is stated that (in addendum to the passage quoted by Ms. De Leon), “Such athlete may play for his/her own university outside the UAAP and/or the National Team.”

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Personally, I have no idea why this has cropped up again. I'm surprised that FEU is making all this noise once more. They did it with Jobe Nkemakolam before in another case of double jeopardy. They seem to question a lot of things and get away with even more. For instance, they did away with the recommendation of the football committee to suspend Master Kim after he attacked a referee two years ago. Even the finals of the football competition (and the laws of football) have been superseded by a best-of-three finals. And there's the inane Soc Rivera Rule (roll eyes all together now). In case you want to know, I asked JR Bulangis if he paid any dues or whatever when he transferred out of FEU to JRU. None whatsoever. I can ask quite a few more ex-Tams and will get the same answer. Can't get wins on the playing field? Your boardroom is your last resort. If this goes to a vote then the whole thing is one big joke.