Romwel Anzures

Incoming De La Salle University senior Mike Phillips. Photo from UAAP Media.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756274539307IMG_8111.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Incoming De La Salle University senior Mike Phillips. Photo from UAAP Media. "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Incoming De La Salle University senior Mike Phillips. <em>Photo from UAAP Media</em>. </span></span></span>MANILA — The PBA has to wait as its request for the UAAP to allow its graduating players to join the Season 50 Draft has been denied.</div><p>According to executive director Rebo Saguigag, the UAAP could not grant the PBA’s appeal, at least for now, explaining that making that decision will not only affect the men’s basketball event but also cover all the collegiate league&#x27;s tournaments.</p><p>“Again, we know the merit and advantages that it will grant the student-athletes. However, &#x27;yun na nga, when we make that decision kasi, it&#x27;s not per sport or per division,” Saguisag told reporters on Wednesday. “It&#x27;s for the whole sporting program of all events.”</p><p>“They understood naman. Si Commissioner Willie [Marcial] understood naman our position.”</p><p>“Kasi may implication siya, hindi siya basta-basta. We have to politely decline at least for this season na hindi namin mapagbibigyan &#x27;yung request na magpa-draft &#x27;yung players in the midst, or actually even before the basketball season begins. Medyo marami siyang implications eh,” he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/8/27/juan-gdl-gozum-brickman-panopio-among-first-applicants-for-pba-50-draft-1127">READ: Juan GDL, Gozum, Brickman, Panopio among first applicants for PBA 50 Draft</a></div><p>Aside from basketball’s side of things, the volleyball tournament is one event that could be affected by this ruling.</p><p>In Season 87, National University’s Alyssa Solomon initially applied for the Korean V-League (KOVO) Asian Quota Draft in March but eventually backed out a week later as she would have forfeited her eligibility while the Lady Bulldogs were in the middle of their title-retention bid.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/3/18/solomon-remains-eligible-to-play-for-nu-after-kovo-draft-withdrawal-says-uaap-2034">READ: Solomon remains eligible to play for NU after KOVO Draft withdrawal, says UAAP</a></div><p>This also meant that the likes of Mike Phillips, Jake Figueroa, Forth Padrigao, and Ced Manzano would need to either exhaust their remaining year in the UAAP, or completely forgo their eligibility if they choose to join the PBA.</p><p>The deadline for the application of the annual PBA Draft is on Friday, August 29, while the event proper is on September 7.</p><p>The UAAP, for its part, will hold its opening ceremonies on September 19, while the basketball tournament starts the day after.</p><p>In comparison, the NCAA allows its players to join the PBA Draft if they are in their final playing year in the amateur ranks.</p><p>“It&#x27;s just that our rule is right now, if you join the draft, you forgo your eligibility,” said Saguigag. “But we’re committed na dinefer namin sa committee for a really deep study on all its implications across all our sporting events. Twenty yun, di ba? Twenty sporting events.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OGyv-GpHr1o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The PBA has to wait as its request for the UAAP to allow its graduating players to join the Season 50 Draft has been denied for now.</p>

The PBA has to wait as its request for the UAAP to allow its graduating players to join the Season 50 Draft has been denied for now.

UAAP ‘politely declines’ PBA’s request to allow players join Rookie Draft

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UAAP ‘politely declines’ PBA’s request to allow players join Rookie Draft

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 27, 2025 02:16 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 27, 2025 07:31 PM PHT

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Basketball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

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PBA Rookie Draft

PBA Season 50

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