It’s still full calendar for UAAP

MANILA, Philippines — Whether its new season unfolds this year or early 2021, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) wants to include all sports disciplines for Season 83.

Reiterating its responsibility and commitment to student-athletes, the country’s top collegiate league has no plans of slashing its sports programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are planning to have a full calendar but of course, that will depend on the government and the schools themselves. These are students, so normalcy in the schools will take precedence,” said UAAP president Emmanuel Fernandez of Ateneo, which hosted the previous season.

Atty. Rebo Saguisag, the UAAP executive director, told yesterday’s PSA Forum webcast the league is preparing the blueprint for the next season under the new normal protocols.

“We’re making plans definitely. Everything is on the table,” said Saguisag in the webcast powered by Smart and presented by San Miguel Corp., PAGCOR, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant and Go For Gold PH.

Doubts on staging all sports for the next UAAP season have surfaced considering the expected financial losses for member schools that could lead to downsized sports programs or suspensions.

The NCAA, for example, already announced its plan to stage only the four mandatory sports for its 95th Season – basketball, volleyball, track and field, and swimming.

Santo Tomas will be declared overall champion of the aborted UAAP Season 82 during a virtual closing ceremony next month.

The Growling Tigers have amassed enough points to earn their fourth straight overall title in both the seniors and juniors divisions despite the cancellation of the remaining second-semester events.

“I think (based) on the last count, they will be declared general champions,” said Fernandez, who said 16 of 18 high school events and 21 of 31 college events have been settled.

Ateneo will host the virtual closing ceremony, and turn over the torch to Season 83 host La Salle.

Though the UAAP wants to avoid a downsized season, time constraint will play a factor if the season opener stretches to as far as the second semester or first quarter of 2021 from the traditional September opener.

The UAAP may be forced to consider the format being used in multi-sports events like the Southeast Asian Games.

“The SEA Games is finishing all events in two weeks. So, what’s stopping UAAP from doing the same thing?” said Fernandez.

“The idea is to have the full calendar but it’s like all sports starting in the second semester. I’m not saying the season would be just (weeks) or a month but most of the events can be played at the same time,” he added.

Since 1938, the UAAP has divided its sports calendar into two semesters. But due to the pandemic, the league might consider squeezing the calendar to a single semester.