Put on hold your plans to cheer for your favorite UAAP volleyball squads—for now.
The league announced on Wednesday that it is indefinitely postponing all its sporting events starting Saturday due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
That means it’s shut down for the popular volleyball competition where the Ateneo Lady Eagles and the National University Bulldogs were set to begin defense of their crowns.
The league said it came up with the decision on Tuesday afternoon after “thorough deliberation” by the UAAP board of trustees and managing directors.
“The University Athletic Association of the Philippines upholds, in the highest regard, the well- being, health and safety of the league’s community—players, coaches, students, their families and fans in general,” a statement issued by the UAAP to media offices read.
The move was done in compliance with the advisories from the Department of Health and Commission on Higher Education.
No date has been set for the new start to the volleyball season. The other tournaments opening this month like men’s football (Feb. 16), softball (Feb. 17), seniors baseball (Feb. 19), athletics (Feb. 19 to 23), and judo (last week of February) have all been postponed along with the playoffs for the high school beach volleyball and basketball tournaments.
The ongoing fencing meet and a high school boys’ football match day will still push through this week.
The league said is it closely monitoring the situation in the Philippines “to determine the resumption of the games.”
In the NCAA, it is business as usual as defending champion Arellano and Perpetual Help clash with separate foes on Thursday, seeking wins that would enhance better Final Four positions in the 95th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Chiefs play Emilio Aguinaldo College at 12 noon, while the Lady Altas go up against Letran in the 2 p.m. contest with wins vital for both whatever the semifinal format turns out to be.
In the event that a team sweeps the eliminations—which in this case only idle College of St. Benilde has a chance of accomplishing—the stepladder format will be applied, hence, giving the No. 2 team the best chance of making the title series compared to Nos. 3 and 4.