UAAP tatanggap na rin ng iba

MANILA, Philippines – Tulad ng NCAA, may plano na rin ang UAAP na palakihin ang liga sa hinaharap.

Sinabi kahapon ni UAAP president Anton Montinola ng Season 72 host Far Eastern University na bukas ang liga sa ideyang tumanggap ng ika-9th at ika-10th miyembro, posible sa susunod na taon, upang higit na makahakot ng interes sa mga tagasubaybay.

“It’s possible, maybe we’ll go nine teams or maybe 10,” wika ni Montinola.

Ngayong taon, tumanggap ng tatlong guest teams ang NCAA--ang Arellano U, Angeles Foundation University, Emilio Aguinaldo College-- bilang senyales ng kanilang planong pagpapalaki ng liga.

Tatanggap ang 85 year-old na NCAA ng tatlong regular na miyembro sa susunod na taon, at maaring hindi manggaling ang mga ito sa guest team na naglalaro ngayon.

At isa sa tinutukoy ni Montinola ay ang San Beda na pangunahing kandidato para sa regular membership sa UAAP.

“If there’s a university that brings to the table something that’s difficult to refuse, then why not. What I mean by that is there has to be a very strong sports program in all sports not only in basketball with a rabid alumni that supports a team win or lose and a school management that is serious about competing consistently in all sports,” ani Montinola.

“Apparently, the school that comes to mind without alienating the other schools interested would be San Beda,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi ni Montinola na ang San Beda, na may 14 na titulo, kabilang na ang three-peat, ay malakas na kandidato kung mag-aaply ito.

“They’re strong in all sports, their alumni is always behind them and supporting them, they have a serious basketball program that would enhance the popularity of the UAAP,” wika ni Montinola.

“With them around, we would have old rivalries that would be rekindled and create new ones like UST-San Beda, FEU-San Beda, La Salle-San Beda, things like that, ani Montinola. (Sarie Nerine Francisco)