Before the UAAP Season 88 begins this October, former Ateneo Blue Eagle Jai Reyes has now named the newest UAAP Basketball Commissioner.
A Blue Eagle Created AsiaBasket and Now Returns to UAAP
There’s no doubt that Jai Reyes has overachieved everyone’s expectations considering he’s short-lived PBA career with the TNT Tropang Texters.
Reyes played for Ateneo from Season 68 to 72 and graduated with a degree in BS Communication Technology Management. He also won the Rookie of the Year award and won back-to-back titles for the Blue Eagles in Season 71 to 72.
Way back in 2021, he founded and created FilBasket. An amateur basketball league that prioritized both collegiate players and young basketball professionals who wanted to play the sport despite being under the pandemic.
The league then later got renamed as AsiaBasket and had a license to become a professional league, which allows certain teams from UAAP and NCAA pto play against each other, with also foreign guest teams invited to be in the tournament.
“I felt happy and excited that I can help build the UAAP because the league has opened so many opportunities for me,” he said on the heels of his official appointment.
“I hope I can contribute to improving the league so it can do the same for the younger athletes.”
Long-Time PBA Head Coach Joins Commissioner Reyes
Joining Commissioner Reyes is long-time PBA Head Coach and multi-champion, Jong Uichico, now playing the role of consultant.
Uichico played for the De La Salle Green Archers in the Seasons 59 and 60. He is currently the head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors and the head of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Coaches Academy.
“His experience is invaluable. He also headed the referee department of the SBP for quite some time,” said Commissioner Reyes.
Improved UAAP Officiating
Levi Valenzuela will serve as technical head, while veteran referee Bong Pascual will conduct the referees workshop.
The newly appointed Commissioner emphasized the need for better game officiating in the collegiate league.
“For the games to bring out the best basketball everyone has to offer, there has to be growth within the community – from players to coaches and stakeholders. We also want our athletes and coaches ready to represent the country in international competitions,” Reyes said.
Levi Valenzuela, an honorary FIBA member and FIBA Rules Contributor, ended his officiating career in 2020.
Bong Pascual, who now serves as the referee supervisor of the PBA, also represented the Philippines as an official in the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Lee has held multiple roles in sports, including coaching at Philadelphia High School, sitting on the board of the Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association, working as a sports coordinator at Pace Academy, heading league operations for Asiabasket, and serving as general manager of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.
“To achieve that, we are tapping the best officials the country has to offer, following the standards set by FIBA, so our athletes and coaches are prepared for international play. We will be assessing and producing reports after every game, and we are also exploring the use of microphones for referees to ensure accountability and improve reviews of crucial situations,” he added.
From 2005 to 2011, Abello coached Ateneo’s Grade School and High School basketball squads in the QCAA and MyBall tournaments. He is currently the Head of Marketing for Salomon and Anta Philippines.
Velarde’s past experience includes coaching De La Salle-Zobel’s high school girls’ basketball team in UAAP Season 82 and acting as tournament commissioner for the Jordan Brand Dayo23 Women’s Tournament. She now works as the Business Operations Manager at Cisco Systems Philippines.
“We will be assessing and producing reports after every game, and we are also exploring the use of microphones for referees to ensure accountability and improve reviews of crucial situations. Our goal is to improve officiating every year through regular workshops in partnership with the SBP,” said Jai Reyes.
