University of the East’s Precious Momowei and Far Eastern University’s Mo Konateh in UAAP Season 87. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — The UAAP is set to welcome major changes as it enters a new chapter in the coming seasons.
Starting in the upcoming Season 88 basketball tournaments which open this weekend, the UAAP will now be calling its Mythical Team as “Elite Team” as the league looks to highlight excellence across varsity sports.
“Beginning this year, what used to be the Mythical Team or 'All-UAAP Team' in each sport will now be called the Elite Team,” said UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag, Jr.
“We took inspiration from international bodies like FIBA’s All-Star Five. The word 'Elite' reflects how these players represent the cream of the crop across all amateur sports,” he continued.
According to the league, the rebranding applies to both team and individual sports, including basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, softball, athletics, swimming, chess, and martial arts disciplines taekwondo, judo, and fencing.
But even with the said change, the UAAP emphasized that the rebranding does not alter the way student-athletes are selected for postseason awards.
In basketball, the top five student-athletes in the statistical points race will still be on the Elite Team, while in volleyball, the best performers in every position will be recognized.
For football, baseball, and softball, athletes who lead in key statistical categories will still be honored.
On the other hand, in individual disciplines such as athletics, swimming, chess, and martial arts — including taekwondo, judo, and fencing — gold medalists for each event will be part of the Elite Team.
Meanwhile, starting UAAP Season 89, teams will now be allowed to parade two foreign student-athletes in their respective pools.
Atty. Saguisag, however, clarified that only one FSA may be part of the active roster at any given time. Still, this assures the schools that teams will now have the option to keep a second foreign student-athlete on reserve.
For all sports, teams can have two foreign student-athletes in their pool, but only one can be part of the active roster at a time, with the other on reserve.
"This way, in cases of injuries — like what NU went through with Mo Diassana last season — there’s someone ready to step in.”
By allowing a second FSA in the pool, the UAAP aims to provide schools with roster security while still maintaining balance across all its sports.
The policy applies across all UAAP sports.