House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero of 1Pacman Partylist yesterday filed a bill that will prohibit schools from recruiting foreign citizens in their sports teams.
Romero said the practice of using foreign players particularly in collegiate leagues denies homegrown players the opportunity to develop their skills.
In House Resolution No. 388, Romero said: “I am urging the proper committee of the House of Representatives in aid of legislation to stop and prohibit all collegiate leagues from recruiting, acquiring and using non-Filipinos as players because in effect, it stops the growth and shortchanges the development of various sports programs in the Philippines.”
“Lest I’ll be accused of some kind of a killjoy, I am doing this for the good of Philippine basketball. The crushing defeats we suffered in the recent FIBA World Cup has forced me to make this resolution,” said Romero who was the godfather of the Philippine basketball team that won the gold medal during the 2007 SEA Games in Ratchasima, Thailand.
“Hindi tayo nagdadamot, pero ang masakit nito, ang kapwa nating Pilipino ang nagiging biktima rito,” he said.
Romero noticed the trend where some foreign players have moved from one league to another, which contradicts the notion that they came to the country to study.
“I’m not targeting any school here. All I want is to give our homegrown players the chance to improve and compete to the best of their ability,” he said.
“Hindi tayo nagdadamot, pero ang masakit nito, ang kapwa nating Pilipino ang nagiging bikitma dito.”
The NCAA is already in motion in prohibiting this practice starting next season, or in 2020.
Only those with Filipino blood or with a Filipino parent will be allowed to participate in the country’s oldest collegiate league.
“These foreign players have taken away playing time from Filipino players, so kung wala ng foreign players they have to step up and deliver,” said an NCAA official.
PBA great Allan Caidic also said that because of their height advantages, foreign players have now dominated the individual honors given each year to outstanding players.
In the current UAAP MVP race, four of the Top 5 players are Africans. (Kristel Satumbaga)