MANILA, Philippines — San Beda College has strongly opposed a proposal to ban foreign players from playing in the NCAA saying the suggestion violated the league’s constitution where changes to existing rules must be made during the annual meeting. Letran president Fr. Tamerlane R. Lana, O.P. had submitted the proposal during a board meeting held last November 12, where he made a call to disallow foreigners from playing in the NCAA, particularly in its basketball tournament, because of the perceived advantage of schools with “imports.”
San Beda’s opposition was highly expected since the school has won four of its last basketball titles with the help of foreigners, two of those players won MVP honors.
Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB, the NCAA Policy Board member of San Beda College, delivered the school’s protest in a letter addressed to Policy Board president Fr. Anthony Morillo of San Sebastian College.
Fr. Maranan’s letter, however, did not address the points raised by Fr. Lana who said that “foreign players recruited for the sole purpose of winning championships is a deviation from the purpose of camaraderie and sportsmanship of the league.”
Fr. Lana also 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.”
He also said the imports have displaced local players who are deprived of good education and recognition.
Fr. Maranan, on the other hand, said there was deception on the part of Fr. Lana and the others because the proposal was not in the agenda and was presented in his absence.
“The undersigned in behalf of San Beda College would like to manifest its strong and vigorous opposition to the motion,” Fr. Maranan said in his letter dated November. 15.
Fr. Maranan also criticized his fellow Policy Board members for giving approval to Fr. Lana’s position paper when Fr. Morillo instructed the Management Committee (MANCON) led by Frank Gusi to look into the matter and submit recommendations.
“Considering that the process over which the motion was propounded and carried runs contrary to the NCAA Constitution and By-Laws,” he said, citing Section 7.1 of the NCAA Handbook which provides that any amendments to existing rules could only be done during the annual meeting.
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
