MANILA, Philippines — A member of the NCAA policy board has proposed a ban on foreign players apparently in reaction to teams having undue advantage over those without “imports.”

Letran rector and president Fr. Tamerlane R. Lana, O.P. made the proposal in a two-page position paper saying that foreign players recruited for the sole purpose of winning championships is a deviation from the purpose of camaraderie and sportsmanship of the league.

“It is not only a deviation from the purpose but even a corruption of the values upheld by the NCAA members as academic institutions,” he said.

Fr. Lana submitted his proposal during a board meeting last Nov. 12 and the Management Committee (MANCOM) has been instructed to make a recommendation before a joint meeting next month.

Fr. Lana said that there is a good reason to believe that these imports come here primarily “not to study but to play, and worse to play for pay.” Besides, he said the imports have displaced local players who are deprived of good education and recognition.

Of the nine NCAA member schools, only Letran, Mapua, San Sebastian College and College of St. Benilde have no foreign players who played last this year although some of them have foreigners with Filipino blood as students and athletes.

Those with foreign players were San Beda, Jose Rizal, Perpetual, Arellano University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Of the schools with foreign players, San Beda has proven to be the most successful in exploiting the advantage.

The Red Lions won three straight championships (2006-2008) with Nigerian Sam Ekwe as its star and then again this year with Sudan Daniel, an American.

San Beda officials were not available for comment.

The Policy Board meeting, which was represented by various school officials, was presided by SSC’s president Fr. Anthony Murillo. The MANCOM is headed by Frank Gusi, who is expected to call a meeting next week to discuss the issue.

Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin