Awards are, in their truest sense, considered a recognition for one’s efforts. When a team outlasts the competition, they earn a championship for their efforts. For individuals, a stellar performance over the course of a season deserves to be recognized. Call them the best player in a conference or an MVP, athletes deserve their flowers regardless of who they beat to get to the top. 

The UAAP’s latest individual award, though, feels different. 

The league’s recent decision to create the Best Foreign Student-Athlete (FSA) award for FSAs certainly highlights their efforts during the season, especially if they’ve become the best players in their sport. The presence of FSAs was once just a regular fixture in Men’s Seniors Basketball, but we are seeing more FSAs in Women’s Seniors Basketball and in other sports like football and volleyball. 

Not only have FSAs become commonplace in the UAAP, but they’ve also won awards because of how they can significantly contribute to their teams’ causes. FSAs have won six of the last eight UAAP MVP awards in Men’s Seniors Basketball, with reigning back-to-back UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao becoming the first local player to win the award in nearly a decade. 

The rationale for creating an award specifically for FSAs may have stemmed from how FSAs have dominated awards, with National University Nazareth School Bullpup Collins Akowe’s dominance in the juniors level only adding fuel to the fire. 

But creating another award for FSAs may not be the answer. 

Yes, locals are now guaranteed to be named MVPs, but it certainly waters down the award given the exemptions that are now in place. If locals are unable to win individual awards, the solution isn’t to create an award; locals should simply be better. Sports are meant to unite and not divide, but now there’s a gap that exists among players simply because of geography. 

It’s also a bit odd that the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award will only be given if the FSA tops the competition’s statistical points race. There technically will still be a “best” FSA among the rest even when he falls behind a few players. For all its faults, the PBA never fails to recognize the best import in a given conference, and so FSAs should be extended the same courtesy by the UAAP. 

However, credit must be given to the UAAP for keeping FSAs, who the NCAA decided to ban after Season 95. The FSAs’ presence has raised the bar in the league and with the UAAP’s other sports also seeing an arrival of FSAs, you could expect the quality to go up as well. In turn, these FSAs get a chance to succeed outside their respective countries and change their lives for the better. 

Unlike other sports leagues in the Philippines, the UAAP has been among the relatively more progressive sports institutions, but it has sadly taken some steps back in its efforts to refine itself. The controversial residency rule that comes at the cost of two playing years for athletes is a conversation for another time, but when combined with this Best Foreign Student Athlete award, one has to wonder if its protectionist policies are being counterproductive. 

After all, the biggest and most unfortunate losers here are the athletes who just want to play.