The National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines will no longer permit its student-athletes to participate in professional leagues as special guest players.
The Grand Old League’s Management Committee collectively decided on Thursday evening to no longer grant its players the Games and Amusement Board’s special guest license.
The league’s Policy Board will ratify the rule, effective once NCAA Season 99 concludes on May 31.
Starting June 1, all student-athletes playing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, the Pilipinas Super League, the Premier Volleyball League, and the Philippines Football League will be withdrawn.
The rationale for this decision is that student-athletes should focus on their off-seasons to catch up on academics.
In 2020, the league allowed its student-athletes to avail themselves of the SGL for humanitarian reasons.
However, this move poses challenges for some schools linked to club teams, as the packages they offer include stints in the pro leagues.
Nevertheless, the NCAA will permit its student-athletes to play in the pros as long as they represent either their school or the national team.
The league will also continue to crackdown on student-athletes competing in unsanctioned leagues during the season.
