NCAA allows pro stint for athletes with guest licenses

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will allow athletes with special guest licenses (SGL) to play in professional leagues in the hopes of bridging the gap between the amateurs and the professionals

“All around the world, we are already seeing the blurring of the lines with the amateur and professional sports. Why not we give them the bridge for the amateurs to play in the professional leagues?” Games and Amusements Board (GAB) legal division chief Ermar Benitez said in a joint press briefing with the NCAA on Friday, November 13.

The SGL is a special permit issued by GAB to amateur players who want to play in professional leagues during the collegiate off-season. 

Peter Cayco of Arellano University, the NCAA Season 95 management committee chairman, said athletes who want to see action in the pros need to secure first the approval of their school before the NCAA endorses the application to GAB. 

“‘Yung exposure kasi ng mga amateurs natin to the professional leagues, I’m sure maraming matutunan both ways,” said Benitez. 

“Other teams from the SEA games and any other international meets are playing with the professionals, may exposure sila so why don’t we do it para ma-improve natin ang ating training pool?”

(With the amateurs’ exposure to the professional leagues, I’m sure they will learn a lot both ways. Other teams from the SEA games and any other international meets are playing with the professionals, they have exposure so why don’t we do it to improve our training pool?)

While the NCAA makes this major move, the UAAP had opted not to avail of the special license.  

Student-athletes who avail of the SGL won’t lose their amateur status as they’re only allowed to receive “minor benefits” and prohibited to receive salaries in the pro leagues.

NCAA Season 96 chairman Fr Vic Calvo said the league needs to “revisit” its rules but the big step is also their way of “adapting to the present realities.” – Vince Roque/Rappler.com