APRUBADO ng National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – pinakamatandang collegiate league sa bansa – ang Special Guest License (SGL) na paraan ng Games and Amusements Board (GAB) upang makalaro ang student-athletes sa anumeang professional leagues.

Sa isinagawang joint media conference ng GAB at NCAA via Zoom nitong Biyernes, inamin ng mga opisyal ng liga na malaki ang pagbabago sa sistema at programa sa international sports at handa ang NCAA na umayon dito para sa kabutihan at kaunlaran ng talento ng atleta.

“At the moment, we have submitted our resolution to the policy board of the NCAA for comments. The Policy Board made some comments regarding the justification of the coaches on why this is important for the development of our student-athletes,” pahayag ni NCAA Season 96 president Fr. Vic Calvo, OP.

“We will honor the SGL of course if the proposal will be finalized. On the other hand, times change. With the joint resolution of GAB and PSC, we have to revisit our rules. We have to adapt to the times and find ways to maintain our status and adapting to the present realities,” sambit ni Calvo, patungkol sa napagkasunduan ng GAB at PSC para madetermina ang status ng amateur at professional.

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Iginiit ni GAB Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra na pinag-usapan at inaprubahan ng GAB Board ang resolusyon na nagpapatibay sa SGL bilang isang paraan upang maipagpatuloy ng student-athletes ang kanyang paglalaro sa commercial at pro league na hindi maapektuhan ang kanyang career sa eskwelahan.

“When I was young, I dreamt of playing in the NCAA but now I am working right now. I still feel that I am part of the NCAA family. Makatulong lang po masaya na po kami. I won’t be always the GAB chairman but I’ll always be a sports fan,” sambit ni Mitra.

Ayon kay GAB legal division head Atty. Ermar Benitez, ang SGL ay isang pamamaraan para sa development ng amateur athletes, gayundin magiging daan para sa dahan-dahan ngunit tamang hakbang para sa transition ng isang amateur tungo sa pagiging full-time professional player.

“We are already seeing the blurring of the lines between amateur and professional sports,” sambit ni Benitez. “Why don’t we give them the bridge?”The coverage is for school-based athletic organizations, the training pool of the PSC can apply for this with the consent, in this case, the NCAA,” aniya.

Samantala, ipinahayag ng UAAP na simula sa Season 82, hindi na papayagang maglaro sa mga commercial leagues bilang indibidwal players ang mga miyembro ng anumang team sports tulad ng basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, at softball.

Papayagan lamang maglaro sa mga commercial leagues gaya ng Philippine Baseball League (PBL), PBA D-League, MPBL at PSL kung maglalaro sila para sa kanilang eskuwelahan.

Layunin ng nasabing resolusyon na isinulong ng University of the East at National University na protektahan ang kahalagahan ng amateurism, ng mismong mga student-athletes at ng kani-kanilang mga eskuwelahan.