FILE – Students from participating schools during the UAAP 81 opening ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon
MANILA, Philippines — After cutting last season short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAAP hopes to cover all bases as it aims to go ahead with a full calendar of events in Season 83 in the first quarter of next year.
The league’s top officials, however, won’t guarantee anything at this point with the future still uncertain as COVID-19 remains rampant in the country.
“We’ are planning to have a full calendar, but of course, that would be dependent on the government and the schools themselves,” said outgoing UAAP president Em Fernandez during the PSA Forum webcast Tuesday. “These are students and normalcy in the schools will take precedent.”
“We’re making plans, definitely, and that’s the target, full calendar and all events. As to the assurance, everything depends on a lot of things and first is the government regulations,” said executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag. “Everything is on the table we have all the plans, but we cannot assure anyone. But we are targeting, of course, we have the best case scenario.”
Fernandez referred to the Southeast Asian Games, which was last held here in December, as an example and blueprint that the UAAP could follow.
“In the SEA Games, everything is wrapped up within two weeks. What’s stopping the UAAP from doing the same thing? That’s for the events,” Fernandez said.
“If the volleyball season runs technically from February to May, what’s stopping the UAAP from running basketball side-by-side with the volleyball tournament? Nothing,” he added.
Normally, basketball and volleyball, two of the most popular events, are held in two separate semesters.
In contrast, NCAA has announced that only four mandatory events will be played when Season 96 opens next year instead of the usual July kick-off.
The UAAP suspended its games starting February before ultimately canceling the remainder of Season 82 in April.