UPIS’ 4OT win forfeited after UAAP Board rules General ineligible

By Anton Roxas Posted Jul 27th 2013

According to UAAP rules, student-athletes who have graduated from grade school only have a 5-year period to participate in the league as a high school player.

Jozhua Macdaniel P. General is in his senior year as a member of the UPIS Junior Maroons and had already played four games in the UAAP Season 76 Juniors basketball tournament, including a dramatic 89-87 win in quadruple overtime against host school Adamson University. However, last Tuesday, July 23, 2013, the UAAP Board suddenly deemed General ineligible, thus barring him to play for the rest of the season. In addition to that, UPIS’ lone victory has been forfeited.

According to the UAAP Board, the 5 year window of General has elapsed citing his graduation from Naga Parochial School in 2008.

In response to that, an appeal to the UAAP Board has been made in the form of a letter written by the parents of General including his father, Jose.

The letter chronicles the journey of their son, Jozhua in his pursuit of a good education with basketball as his vehicle.

Jozhua graduated in 2008 at the young age of 11 after completing Grade 6. There is no Grade 7 at Naga Parochial School. He was then enrolled in San Beda Taytay as a first year high school student. Unfortunately, Jozhua and his family were unhappy at the school and decided to leave.

Eventually, Jozhua and his family decided to enter at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong (LSM) as a Grade 7 student. After his graduation from LSM in 2010, Jozhua once again enrolled as a first year high school student, but this time, at UPIS. He has been a member of the Junior Maroons since he first suited up for the team in UAAP Season 73 (2010).

As of the moment, there is still no word from the UAAP Board regarding the appeal for General.