New rules, new season: What to know about UAAP 2026-2027

READY FOR ACTION. The UAAP holds a press conference for its Season 89 basketball tournament on Tuesday, September 8.

UAAP Media

With what is already shaping up to be an interesting UAAP Season 89, here are the new rules fans can expect to see as the games officially begin

AT A GLANCE

• The 89th season of the UAAP has begun, hosted by Far Eastern University with the theme 'For Everyone, UAAP'.
• New rules include allowing teams to field two foreign student-athletes and addressing the 'one-and-done' phenomenon by requiring a year of residency for new players.
• Stricter officiating and a new suspension system will be implemented, with increased penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and technical fouls.

This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors.

The 89th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has officially opened. 

The Far Eastern University (FEU) is the host for the 2026 to 2027 games — taking on the theme “For Everyone, UAAP,” which aims to recognize not just the efforts of student-athletes and coaches, but all the people who work on the sidelines to make play possible. 

FEU last hosted the UAAP in Season 80. 

Heading into the collegiate league’s basketball tournament, the La Salle Green Archers vie to defend the men’s championship without standout center Mike Phillips. Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who are coming into the season led by new head coach Louie Alas, just months after the deaths of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili and the subsequent resignation of Tab Baldwin. 

With what is already shaping up to be an interesting season, here are the new rules fans can expect to see take effect as the games officially begin. 

On fielding foreign student-athletes

Come Season 89, each team is now allowed to have two foreign student-athletes (FSAs), compared to past seasons where teams were limited to just one active FSA. 

Teams are still only allowed to field one FSA on the actual court, but may switch from one FSA to another so long as they declare it at least an hour before the game starts. 

This rule only applies to team sports outside of 3×3 basketball. 

‘One-and-done’ phenomenon 

Among the issues the UAAP board aims to address is the “one-and-done” phenomenon, where players who have already graduated from a different university pursue a master’s degree to play for just one year in a UAAP team. 

According to UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag, this rule was already legislated some time last year, but will be “prospective in nature.” 

Student-athletes who graduated from a non-UAAP school are currently allowed to enroll and immediately compete in the league as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria. But under this new reform, which will take effect in Season 90, players will have to undergo a year of residency with their new school before being allowed to play. 

“The rationale is the board wanted somehow for the student-athletes to inculcate the culture of their respective schools before they compete,” Saguisag explained. “They should know what Igma Kadima of UE means. Or what it means to be a ‘klasmeyt’ at Adamson. Or for FEU, what it means to be actually brave. So they’ll sit out one year, get inculcated in the culture, and play next year.” 

In Season 88, the Ateneo Blue Eagles were led by their own one-and-done Fil-Am trio of Jaden Lazo, Kymani Ladi, and Dom Escobar. 

The new rule applies to all sports in the UAAP. 

Stricter FIBA-style officiating, new suspension system

The UAAP had recently undergone a referee’s refresher course administered by FIBA officials last July — and learned that bench decorum was something the collegiate league had to work on and monitor more closely. 

“We had two FIBA officials come to the Philippines and observe our games, and what they both observed was that bench decorum has to be aligned further in FIBA. So coaches, there may be more technical fouls this year, so please keep your benches in control,” said UAAP commissioner Jai Reyes during the league’s basketball press conference. 

According to Reyes, these new rules were set to ensure that once the student-athletes, coaches, and officials step off the UAAP court, they’ll be equipped with the necessary knowledge and etiquette fit for the world stage. 

With this, the UAAP will be implementing a new suspension system when its basketball tournament begins. When a student-athlete is suspended, they will still automatically be disqualified from receiving any post-season awards. 

How will the new system work? 

Two unsportsmanlike fouls will merit suspension for a player, depending on the severity of the infraction they committed. 

Meanwhile, a player will get suspended once they reach their third technical foul. From there, every two additional technical fouls they get will lead to suspension. The same format applies for head coaches, who will now also be bearing the brunt of bench technical fouls. 

The count of these fouls, however, resets during the playoffs. – Rappler.com