UP’s General eligible to play in UAAP?

MANILA, Philippines - University of the Philippines will seek an official document from the Department of Education to certify that its high school player Jozhua Mcdaniel General’s elementary graduation supersedes his other primary education in Naga years before that will make him eligible to play in the ongoing 76th UAAP juniors basketball tournament.

“Jozhua General is eligible to play for UPIS because as per DepEd, his graduation from Lourdes Mandaluyong in 2010 is his elementary graduation which supersedes his Grade Six graduation in Naga,” UPIS coach Allan Gregorio yesterday told The STAR.

Gregorio was reacting to the recent UAAP board decision turning down UP’s appeal to reconsider the league’s decision declaring General ineligible to play for violating league rules on maximum years allowed for a high school player.

UAAP considered General’s graduation in Naga previous to the player’s other graduation in Lourdes in 2010 as the main basis of its decision.

The decision forfeited the Junior Maroons’ only win after the firts round – a grueling 89-87 quadruple overtime triumph over the Adamson Junior Falcons last July 15 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gregorio, however, was puzzled as to why the league’s technical committee cleared General to play in the first play just before the season unfolded.

“He was cleared by the eligibility committee to play before the season started thus, that must be respected too,” said Gregorio. “Why forfeit our quadruple OT win and take away a rare feat and a UAAP record?

“Why take away an opportunity from a young man when the rule does not state that a person’s first graduation has to be considered even if the boy has given a higher level of elementary graduation certified by the DepEd?”