ARMCHAIR pundits are convinced there’s a huge gap between the UAAP and NCAA — as far as being competitive is concerned.
For starters, foreign student-athletes have not been allowed in the NCAA since its 97th season in 2022. The banishment was already in effect in 2020 but the league started to implement it only two years later due to the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
Coach Topex Robinson of defending UAAP champion La Salle, who also called the shots in the NCAA in the past for San Sebastian College and Lyceum, said it’s just fine, adding each league only brings the best out in each other, with or without foreign players.
“At the end of the day, we’re college basketball. We just happen to be on two different spectrums come September,” Robinson said. “But we have to compete against each other.
“We have to really see where we’re at because those guys, kumbaga talagang makikipagpalitan ng mukha,” he added.
For good reason.
The Green Archers walked the tightrope before scoring a 91-87 decision over the Letran Knights in the semifinals of the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Pre-season Cup four days back and forged a one-game title match with University of the Philippines at press time yesterday.
The 87th season of the UAAP is set to start in September, while the NCAA’s centennial year will come off the wraps also in September.
Robinson said the premiere off-season meet will only serve the collegiate teams in good stead.
“This will benefit college basketball and that’s what’s important and that’s what’s Filoil Pre-season is all about,” he said.
