UAAP changes volleyball sched, puts spotlight on men’s games

FILE – NU Bulldogs keep UAAP crown. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Eyeing equal exposure to all athletes, the UAAP and longtime broadcast partner ABS-CBN have decided to shake up the volleyball schedule this season.

Unlike in previous years where men’s games were played in the morning serving as curtain raiser to women’s matches in the afternoon, volleyball action will now be played alternately.

In the revised schedule, men’s matches will be played at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m while the ladies will hit the court at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

“With the success of the Men’s Volleyball team in the last SEA Games, it is about time that we put Men’s Volleyball side by side with the Women’s Volleyball,” said UAAP president Emmanuel Fernandez.

Women’s volleyball has long been considered as the centerpiece of the sport in the country, but the recent success of the men’s national team further boosted the male players’ case for primetime exposure.

Last month, the men’s national side, spearheaded by Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, bagged the silver medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

It was the first time the men’s volleyball team had a podium finish since 2005.