The National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines has informed College of St. Benilde that head coach Jerry Yee will not be allowed to continue coaching the Lady Blazers due to the league’s rule prohibiting professional coaches from handling collegiate teams.
In a letter sent Tuesday, the NCAA reiterated its stance against pro coaches doubling as mentors in the collegiate ranks, putting Yee’s position in jeopardy just as the Lady Blazers set their sights on a historic four-peat.
“The matter is still being studied and vetted by the [NCAA] volleyball committee. So far, there has been an exchange of correspondence between the NCAA volleyball committee and CSB about the specific rules and their applicability. It’s only up to that point still,” said NCAA Management Committee chair Herc Callanta of Season 100 host Lyceum of the Philippines University on Monday.
The controversy arose after Arellano University questioned Yee’s eligibility, mere days after its Lady Chiefs fell to the reigning champions, 25-18, 25-12, 24-26, 25-17, in last Thursday’s season opener.
Yee was on the sidelines for that match despite concurrently serving as head coach of ZUS Coffee in the Premier Volleyball League.
CSB’s Mancom representative Dax Castellano confirmed receipt of the NCAA’s letter but has yet to make a formal response.
Callanta admitted that while the rule barring pro coaches exists, there is no clear directive on the penalties for its violation.
“Personally, I believe there is no league rule stating there’s a commensurate punishment for Yee violating an old rule about pro coaches plying their trade in the century-old league,” he said.
One possible workaround for Yee would be stepping down as head coach and assuming a different role, such as an assistant coach or consultant.
Meanwhile, Strong Group, the backer of Benilde and ZUS Coffee, has tapped Italian coach Fabio Menta as its volleyball consultant.
Menta will also help out University of the Philippines, Farm Fresh, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
