PH collegiate sports

Can Philippine collegiate action really return soon?

Rappler.com

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Can Philippine collegiate action really return soon?
‘I think it's dangerous precedent, to have a sports bubble for an amateur student-athlete team while the school is closed down,’ says sports lawyer Mickey Ingles

The creation of a bubble has been the major driving force behind the resumption of sporting events around the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And thus far, one of the most successful bubble models is the NBA campus in Orlando, Florida where zero COVID-19 positive cases have been recorded since July. 

Locally, the PBA looks all set to stage its own bubble setup in Clark, Pampanga for the restart of the Philippine Cup on October 11 after securing a “provisional authority” from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

As pro and commercial leagues in other sports look to do the same, are amateur sports next?

Earlier this month, the IATF allowed collegiate athletes to train in areas under general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine. 

Training guidelines will be created by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as the development came after the alleged bubble training of the UST men’s basketball team in Sorsogon, which violated community quarantine rules. 

Even with the go signal to train, however, UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag and sports lawyer Mickey Ingles think it may be more difficult to push for the immediate return of collegiate leagues. 

“Our athletes in the UAAP are student-athletes. My personal view, it might be difficult because there are no face-to-face classes and yet we’re pushing for a sporting event,” said Saguisag.

“Exercise is important, don’t get me wrong. Exercise, training or whatever it is, do it,” he said during The Goal Diggers PH podcast. “Pero yung sporting event, tapos walang face-to-face, medyo ibang usapan ‘yan (To have a sporting event when there are no face-to-face classes, that’s a different matter).”

Ingles, author of Law for Sports and the Sporty: A Handbook on Philippine Sports Law, said allowing student-athletes to train in a bubble is “dangerous.”

“[If ] you allow student-athletes to train in a bubble and then you don’t have face-to-face classes yet, I think that’s the worst kind of sports exceptionalism,” said Ingles.

“I think it’s dangerous precedent, to have a sports bubble for an amateur student-athlete team while the school is closed down, and no face-to-face classes are being conducted.”

Saguisag, who’s also a lawyer, said there’s no clear timetable yet on the resumption of the UAAP.

I know the UAAP can be a source of inspiration, but again, know the risk. It might be too much of a risk,” he said. “It has to be emphasized that our athletes are students before they are athletes.” 

“If you’re a professional, you’re paid to do it, that’s a different matter. That’s my view. My personal view, not necessarily of the UAAP,” he added.

“To the UAAP fans, just be patient. Gusto ko ‘tong matuloy kung pupwede (We want to push through with this if possible), but we have to look at the science, the legal side of things, and the moral side of things.”

“It’s not that easy. Let’s be patient. But we will be back. Just like most things, this too shall pass so hang in there.” – Martin Mendoza/Rappler

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