UAAP to enforce medical screening amid recent player deaths

MANILA, Philippines -- The UAAP said it will ensure that there will be a pre-participation medical screening in trainings, following the deaths of two student-athletes in recent months.

Back in June, Gilas Pilipinas girls and National University Lady Bullpups standout Ashlyn Abong passed away after collapsing during training.

And just last week, University of the Philippines recruit Israel Friday also collapsed during practice and died.

Abong was 18 while Friday was 19.

In an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the UAAP press conference Wednesday at the University of Santo Tomas, UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag said that they will reinforce medical screening protocols to prevent such incidents from happening again.

“Sa competition side may [emergency medical services] naman kami. But we are trying to ensure that sa training meron silang pre-participation medical screening,” he told reporters.

“So yun lang. Papaigtingin lang. I'm sure meron yan. But mas conscious na kami ngayon,” he added.

Saguisag stressed that they will remind all schools that these will be done even in trainings.

UAAP Season 88, with the theme “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” will kick off September 19.

UST, as host, will hold an opening ceremony on that date, followed by the opening of the basketball season on September 20.

This season will also mark the return of high school boys’ baseball, as well as the debut of boys’ tennis.

The league will likewise reshuffle its calendar, with judo and taekwondo now held in the second semester.