UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag. UAAP Media

MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP will be handing out the Best Foreign Student-Athlete Award across sports starting Season 87, executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag announced Thursday during the kick-off press conference for the women's volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Saguisag said that if the player who gets the most statistical points in a sporting event is a foreign student-athlete, he or she will receive the Best FSA award. Meanwhile, the top-performing local or homegrown talent will be given the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum.

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"This is not just applicable to the sport of volleyball, this new award called the Best Foreign Student-Athlete Award. The idea is, if the best foreign student-athlete emerges as the top candidate or he had more statistical points, then he will be awarded the Best Foreign Student-Athlete Award," Saguisag explained.

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"The rationale is because of the growing presence — and some deem it —t he dominance of the foreign student-athletes. The idea of the UAAP is somehow to both recognize local and international talent, as a matter of equity," he said further.

“By implementing the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, we ensure that if an FSA leads the statistical points race, they are duly recognized, while still allowing a local student-athlete to be awarded MVP.”

Saguisag said policies in the UAAP are being reviewed continuously. "We continue to review policies. But for now, we think this is a step forward, and we'll see how it goes from there," he said.

The best foreign student-athlete will still be eligible for other awards, such as the membership to All-UAAP Teams or Mythical Teams.