Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Israel Friday

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755850740296UPMBTIsraelFriday1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Late UP recruit Israel Friday. Handout/UCAL"/>Late UP recruit Israel Friday. Handout/UCAL</div>MANILA – The University of the Philippines Office of Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD) will implement changes in its protocols for student-athletes following the passing of men&#x27;s basketball recruit Israel Friday. In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, UP OASD Director Bo Perasol said they are taking proactive steps to improve the current measures in place. Perasol said all students, including athletes, are required to undergo medical evaluation before they enter UP. Student athletes will also have to go through a pre-participation medical sports evaluation (PMSE) before joining their teams. One of the immediate changes, after consulting with doctors, is to require all its foreign student-athletes to undergo tests before resuming practice. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/8/20/uaap-up-fighting-maroons-recruit-israel-friday-passes-away-1052">READ: UP Fighting Maroons recruit Israel Friday passes away</a></div>&quot;Bago mag-resume ng practice ngayon ng all foreign student-athletes ng UP, they have to undergo tests, &#x27;no? Ngayon sa cardiovascular tests muna ngayon. Regardless, kung nag-undergo na sila ng sinasabi ko kanina na PMSE, but they have to go para ma-clear lang natin about their medical kung meron silang medical conditions ngayon,&quot; he said. The UP official said Friday was scheduled to undergo these tests this week. The 6-foot-10 Nigerian center collapsed during practice last Tuesday and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he passed away. Friday was 19 years old.&quot;Really unfortunate, hindi niya na inabot. Kasi he was approved to undergo a medical certification early this week. Kasi ngayon [Monday] nga lang siya na-approve ng varsity committee. So, hindi niya na inabot yung medical evaluation,&quot; Perasol said. &quot;Nandun meron ding ECG, meron ding interview about medical history kasi pag nagkaroon ka ng medical history at nagkaroon ng konting stress doon sa mga tests sa PMSE, eh nagkakaroon pa ng mga further medical testings. Doon mismo nagkakaroon na ng medical testings,&quot; he explained. Perasol said doctors from the Philippine General Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center have reached out to help expand testing for student-athletes to include stress testing aside from ECG. &quot;To nip it in the bud, the moment na we have fresh recruits, ang pinaka-requirement siguro natin is even before they start practicing with a team, certification that they&#x27;re really fit para mag-ensayo na or even maglaro sa sports program ng UP,&quot; he said. Perasol said they will also implement this measure for student-athletes competing in second semester sports to ensure their safety and health. &quot;Regardless if it&#x27;s going to be shouldered by our partner hospitals, our sponsors... it really won&#x27;t matter kung kanino manggagaling, but it has to happen. It really has to happen. Everyone has to be cleared medically para makapaglaro. Kasi we wouldn&#x27;t want anyone again undergoing such a condition,&quot; he shared. <div> </div><div>UPDATE ON ISRAEL FRIDAY </div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz86TOfDIfqXIe&amp;cid=ABfMXmTIgKbQp1Im"></script>Perasol said they asked permission from the Friday&#x27;s family on the conduct of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. &quot;For some reasons, maybe some religious reasons, inayawan nila yung autopsy. So yung nasa death certificate would only put in there as a myocardial infarction as the cause of death.... Well, as it was explained to me also, ito raw ay isang heart attack,&quot; he said. Perasol said they did not receive any information from Friday&#x27;s former team, the Centro Escolar University Scorpions, on any existing medical conditions. &quot;Coach Gold, parang in-inform niya yung CEU management, wala silang sinabi na walang ano yan, walang prior na incidents na would point out that meron siyang medical condition about the heart,&quot; he shared.&quot;So walang sinabing ganun. Kasi malalaman din naman natin. Kasi during the games, malalaman din ng CEU yan na nagkakaroon ng difficulty in breathing o may chest pains,&quot; the UP official added. Perasol said he was asked by UP Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde to take a look at Friday&#x27;s skills before recruiting him to Diliman. &quot;Nakita natin itong si Israel Friday na naglalaro sa CEU who [has] actually been dominating yung kanyang mga liga na sinasalihan ng CEU. So wala naman sa isip ng lahat yan,&quot; he shared.&quot;I went in practice, I saw him, sabi ko maganda naman ang potential Coach Gold. Very athletic, 19 years old, so bata pa, mahaba pa yung pwedeng ipag-serve niya sa school. So, nag-agree kami na, sige, let&#x27;s talk to CEU for his transfer. And just actually, just this Monday, this Monday lang siya na officially admitted through the Varsity Admission Committee approval,&quot; he explained.Perasol shared that Friday just started practicing with the UP Fighting Maroons last week, following their return from Japan. All the players have met with a counselor to discuss what happened and their next steps. The UP OASD has extended full support for Friday&#x27;s family following his passing. A mass will be held for the Nigerian recruit at the Varsity Training Center organized by UP OASD, UP Men&#x27;s Basketball Team and nowheretogobutUP.

The University of the Philippines Office of Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD) will implement changes in its protocols for student athletes following the passing of UP Fighting Maroons recruit Israel Friday.

The University of the Philippines Office of Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD) will implement changes in its protocols for student athletes following the passing of UP Fighting Maroons recruit Israel Friday.

After death of recruit, UP to implement changes in student-athletes screening, requirements

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After death of recruit, UP to implement changes in student-athletes screening, requirements

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 22, 2025 04:37 PM PHT

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