“The special license will allow them to play in the professional leagues without them being branded as professionals,” GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.

With the stalled action from UAAP and NCAA due to their halted competitions with the coronavirus scare, student-athletes have been allowed to have short-term stints in the professional leagues.

Guidelines were already submitted by the Technical Working Group to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the conduct of sports for the amateur league, however, games will still be barred and will only limit the college teams to body conditioning, and non-body contact drills training.

Moreover, UAAP and NCAA are looking at the start of their respective seasons in 2021.

The special license offered by the governing agency was to give exposure to the collegiate athletes in the pro setting and for them to carry the experience when they return to their schools.

“And then believe it or not when they go back to the UAAP or the NCAA they are gonna be better prepared kasi nakaharap na nila ‘yung mga a little older or more seasoned players,” Mitra added.

However, players will need the permission of their respective schools before joining the professionals as guests.

Although Mitra is not looking at the whole amateur team in participating in the pro leagues, individuals may do so by paying the fee of P1000 or less.