UAAP may replace ‘Athlete of the Year’ award with ‘Outstanding Players’

MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP is considering a move to replace the “Athlete of the Year” award with an 8-person “Outstanding Players of the Year” laurel honoring an athlete from each member school by next season following the controversy that was stirred after the selection of 4 Athletes of the Year for UAAP Season 78. 

According to a UAAP Board member requesting anonymity, this motion was put on the table following the controversy that stemmed from naming Alyssa Valdez, the graduating player who won her third straight Women’s Volleyball Most Valuable Player Award but was unable to defend Ateneo’s title against La Salle, among the 4 athletes. 

According to the source, part of the problem also was that there were too many awardees. “In years past, there was only one, two at the most. Now you have 4. One is tough enough but the more you have the more controversy there is,” said the source. “This way, if the selection is controversial, each school will have to answer for its own choice.” 

In an unprecedented move, the UAAP named 4 recipients of the coveted award this past Season 78, including Adamson softball player Queeny Sabodo, La Salle’s table tennis champion and 2016 Olympian Ian Lariba, Ateneo swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna and Valdez.

Rappler’s source says that while the “Outstanding Player of the Year” has been met with initial approval by the league, it has yet to be ratified. – Rappler.com