UAAP introduces Best Foreign Student-Athlete award

Metro Manila, Philippines - The UAAP has introduced the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award beginning Season 87 across all sports, where statistical points determine individual performance rankings.

UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag explained how the new award will work within the league’s framework.

If a foreign student-athlete finished on top of the statistical points race, the new award will be given to the player, while the next best local student-athlete in the statistical points race will receive the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum.

“The Best Foreign Student-Athlete award will be given across all UAAP sports but only if a foreign student-athlete finishes as the leader in events where statistical points are available," he said on Thursday, Feb. 13, during a press conference for the upcoming volleyball season.

“In that case, they will receive the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, while the highest-ranking local student-athlete in the statistical race will be recognized as the Most Valuable Player," he said.

Foreign student-athletes will still be eligible for other individual awards such as the Mythical Teams.

“The reason behind this is to ensure that we properly recognize both our local and international student-athletes while maintaining the spirit of the league’s competition,” Saguisag said.

“By implementing the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, we ensure that if an FSA leads the statistical points race, they are duly recognized, while still allowing a local student-athlete to be awarded MVP,” he added.

The UAAP previously handed the MVP award to foreign student-athletes like Ben Mbala of De La Salle University, Bright Akhuetie and Malick Diouf of the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University's Ange Kouame, and University of Santo Tomas' Soulemane Chabi Yo.