Jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum for UAAP finals. Photo by Celest Flores/INQUIRER.net
Two blockbuster events that drew massive crowds underscored the UAAP’s tag as the country’s biggest collegiate league.
Host Adamson said yesterday that Season 76 may have been marked by controversies, but the fans’ unwavering support saw each game of the men’s basketball title series and the cheerdance competition drawing record crowds of over 20,000.
The league rode out numerous issues this season, including two temporary restraining orders in juniors basketball and swimming, contentious suspensions on players and coaches in men’s hoops and game forfeitures in women’s play.
“Season 76 was very successful despite the problems we encountered along the way,” said league president Fr. Maximino Rendon, C.M., of host Adamson.
“This we credit to the enormous support of students, alumni and fans to their respective schools.”
La Salle captured the men’s basketball title over University of Santo Tomas in an epic Game 3 championship duel played in front of the biggest crowd the league has ever seen at 23,696 at Mall of Asia Arena.
The first two games of the best-of-three series also commanded a huge live audience at Smart Araneta Coliseum as Game 1 pulled a crowd of 20,525, which grew even bigger in Game 2 at 23,037.
Last month, the cheerdance competition won by National University for the first time was also witnessed by electric fans that reached 20,830 at MOA Arena, topping last season’s record of 20,686.
“Despite all intrigues and controversies, the UAAP board was able to provide effective solutions to manage it well,” said Rendon.