One of the things that I have enjoyed during college was college basketball. My Alma Mater, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, is on one of the participating schools in the NCAA. While I was still studying in Letran, the school won two NCAA championship titles. I have always preferred watching college basketball since your school spirit is fired up when you’re watching a game. There is a sense of loyalty. You could really switch sides unless you switch schools. There is a sense of pride as well. You somehow feel prouder when coming out of a game when your school won.

When I was still in college, all the players were Filipino. Now the league is filled with foreign exchange student which in my opinion is quite unfair for schools that don’t have them. Filipino American players were okay. At least they are half Filipino. I think the opportunity for talented Filipino basketball players are getting slimmer. Since there are no regulations against having foreign nationals playing in the NCAA, what would stop a school from having a team with all players being foreigners?

It started in 2006 when San Beda acquired a six foot nine center, Sam Ekwe, to play for their team. Jose Rizal University and Emilio Aguinaldo College has enlisted foreigners in their bid to win a championship. Currently there are four foreign nationals playing in the league. San Beda still has American Sudan Daniel in their roster while Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals while have Lim Wei, a Malaysian Chinese Lim Wei and a veteran of the Penang Basketball Association In their lineup.

San Sebastian College, Mapua and Letran still has an all Filipino lineups but are considering the possibility of tapping foreign imports in the future. College of St. Benilde and University of Perpetual Help are against tapping foreign nationals in their team.

In my opinion, it is still better if the NCAA teams stick with an all-Filipino roster.  After the NCAA, they could not join the Philippine Basketball Association and could not be tap to play for the Philippines for international competitions. It deprives young Filipinos talents a chance to play in the NCAA. I hope Letran sticks with an all-Filipino roster. If San Sebastian won a championship without any foreign players, why can’t other school do it as well?