New UAAP rule postpones transfer of Mbala, Pingoy to another team

The much-anticipated debut of Southwestern University star Ben Mbala will be pushed back for one more year after the UAAP Board of Trustees included in their amendment to the rules that will increase the residency of foreign players from one to two years.

The two-year residency rule will take effect immediately this season after the Board approved of the amendments last Tuesday. Social networking sites were abuzz over the this development which also included a two-year residency for UAAP high school players that are transferring to another member school.

Earlier this year, Mbala, the Cameroonian largely responsible for giving SWU its first and only title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), committed to join the La Salle Green Archers after impressing them with his stellar play during the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League in Manila. He was set to make his debut in 2014 but with the new amendments which was confirmed by a UAAP Board member who sought anonymity, he will only get to see action for the Archers in 2015.

The same goes for back-to-back UAAP juniors MVP and Cebuano, Jerie Marlon Pingoy, who appears to be at the center of this rule change.

Pingoy, the son of former PBA player Jerry Pingoy, starred for the Far Eastern University-Diliman for the last two years and brought a title to the Baby Tamaraws last season. Pingoy has also suited up for the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) a few years back.

Although he has yet to publicly state his collegiate destination, sources have the 5-foot-11 guard going to the Eagles’ nest to form a potent backcourt with “The Phenom” Kiefer Ravena.

However, FEU also claims that Pingoy signed a document saying that he will remain with FEU for his collegiate career. With the rule change, should Pingoy choose to play for Ateneo, he will get to see the court in 2015 yet while should he stay with the Tamaraws, he will be able to play for the seniors team right away.

This writer was able to get in touch with the youngster who was on vacation in Hong Kong but Pingoy refused to comment on the situation.