Martin San Diego | FCF

Following a court ruling by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) Branch 226 on Tuesday granting a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the UAAP from implementing its highly-controversial eligibility rule, the league has expressed that they will respect the decision of the court.

According to Malou Isip, UAAP Season 76 Secretary-Treasurer, Anna Dominique “Mikee” Bartolome was included in University of the Philippines’ women’s swimming lineup during the league’s eligibility meeting for the upcoming Swimming tournament.

Isip stated through a text message sent to the media that “(they have) no choice but to respect the TRO or else (the league will be cited in) contempt (by the court).”

The said eligibility rule states that a high school athlete who graduated from a UAAP member school and enrolled for college in another membery university “shall take a mandatory two-year residency, except when prior release is issued by the Member University (high school) for the athlete concerned.”

The Lady Maroons swimmers aim to win their sixth straight title in the league’s swim meet, which will be held from September 19 to 22 at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna. (With reports from Merck Maguddayao)