UAAP Executive Director Atty Rebo Saguisag during the contract signing of Claret School and Southridge as guest teams for the UAAP Season 87 boys' football tournament, November 28, 2024, at the NCPAG Building in UP Diliman. UAAP MediaMANILA -- The UAAP notched a milestone on Thursday with the inclusion of two guest teams in its upcoming Season 87 boys' football tournament.
The Claret School of Quezon City and PAREF Southridge School signed an agreement with the league at the NCPAG Building in UP Diliman, cementing their place in the competition that starts on January 18, 2025 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Spirits were high among the UAAP leadership as they discussed the league's latest accomplishment -- one that they believe bodes well for the future of high school sports.
READ: UAAP welcomes Claret, Southridge to boys' football
"This [boys' football] is the guinea pig," UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag told ABS-CBN News, when asked if a similar plan is in place for the girls' division in high school. "There will be problems, of course, but nothing that we cannot solve."
"Of course, after this, ang importante naman with any program is the program review. So we'll sit down again, and of course, that's something also in the pipeline," he added.
If inviting schools to become guest teams in events appears to be a fairly straightforward endeavor, then expanding the eight-team league is another matter entirely.
Saguisag acknowledged that "a certain institution" has already applied for membership in the UAAP, but it will take time before they can decide on the matter. As it stands, the UAAP must first review their policies and criteria for membership -- a process that Saguisag says has already started.
"We have very broad statements and provisions on membership. The last time a member-school was admitted was way back in the 80s when we were yet to be born," he said, referring to De La Salle University which joined the UAAP in 1986.
"I already reviewed also the conditions of memberships, which are now irrelevant or inapplicable," he admitted. "We're not necessarily targeting any particular institution. But the wheels have started to turn, and we will come up with a criteria to open up for a possible expansion and growth, for the good of Philippine sports."
These criteria are not yet set, though Saguisag believes that it may involve a membership fee. Any school that's interested in joining the UAAP must also be ready to participate in the league's mandatory sports, and ensure that their athletic program is not only competitive but also sustainable, according to the executive.
"Importante din 'yung history … [and] a good reputation," Saguisag added. "We expect that from any institution to be part of our group."
For now, it may be too early for drastic changes in the seniors division, but the possibilities in high school sports are endless and Saguisag already has ideas on the next event that can welcome guest teams.
"Siyempre nilambing ko na -- baka naman high school baseball should be next," said the executive director. "It's a sport that I think the Filipinos can excel [at], and if this [football] is the beautiful game, some call baseball the thinking man's game."
"So, maybe it's time, and this is just to open doors. This is just the start of things to come," he said.
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