The addition of new juniors’ sports is among the highlights of UAAP Season 88’s sporting calendar.
There will be a number of tweaks to the UAAP calendar once Season 88 tips off this September 19.
As announced in the UAAP Season 88 press conference last Wednesday, August 27, boys’ tennis will be making its debut for the upcoming season, while the high school baseball tournament will be held for the first time since Season 82 in 2019.
“May mga teams naman na kami like UST, NU, Ateneo, La Salle, so we can actually bring back UAAP High School Baseball. Right now wala pa sa high school for tennis, mayroon lang ‘yung men and women, so we’re trying to introduce tennis for high school,” said UST-Institute of Physical Education and Athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio.
According to Fr. Cansancio, adding more juniors’ sports to the UAAP calendar will be crucial in establishing grassroots programs, and can help guarantee a seamless transition into the seniors’ team; after all, grassroots programs are already in place for main sports like basketball and volleyball.
In the tennis scene, there is the continued rise of Alex Eala, who recently became the first Filipino tennis player to win in a Grand Slam event during the Open Era. Then, in local baseball, the UST Junior Golden Sox recently participated in the Babe Ruth 18U World Series in Florida last August 3 to 7.
“Kailangan mo ng grassroots program, so basically it’s more of a development program — from your high school program, you’ll just move up to your college program,” Fr. Cansancio explained.
Apart from these two juniors’ events, combat sports in judo and taekwondo have also been moved to the second semester in order to avoid scheduling conflicts with the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December.
What about the basketball games?
Meanwhile, the men’s basketball tournament is expected to tip off this September 20 and 21, with games being played at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, as venues such as the SMART Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena will be used for the FIVB Men’s World Championship until September 28.
While schedules are yet to be finalized as of writing, Fr. Cansancio confirmed that the UST Growling Tigers will open their campaign against defending champions UP Fighting Maroons this September 21. For the Tigers, it will be their first “home game” since Round 2 of UAAP Season 87 against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“‘Yung pairing is based on the rank last season, so usually it’s 1 [versus] 3, and 2 [versus] 4. So kung 1 and 3, and third place tayo [for Season 87], UP ang kalaban natin,” Fr. Cansancio explained.
Women’s basketball, however, isn’t expected to tip off until September 24, according to Fr. Cansancio, due to the FIBA Under-23 3×3 World Cup taking place from September 17 to 21.
“May mga UAAP player yata na kasama doon sa FIBA 3×3, I think sila Kacey dela Rosa kasama sila doon. So upon their request, we will start the UAAP women’s basketball on Wednesday, September 24,” Fr. Cansancio explained, with Adamson’s Elaine Etang, and NU’s Tin Cayabyab also getting a Gilas 3×3 call-up.
As for other venues, Fr. Cansancio explained that the UAAP is still exploring possible options outside the QPav, given that they will have a few more playdates amid the FIVB World Championship window.
“But the following week, open na rin ‘yung ibang venues, hindi na rin gagamitin ng FIVB. So moving forward, available na rin ‘yung big venues like MOA and Araneta…Final na ‘yung September 20 and 21 sa QPav,” Fr. Cansancio explained.
“So basketball season will open here sa QPav. ‘Yung sa Wednesday [September 24], hindi pa namin alam if dito sa QPav or other venue, tinitignan namin ‘yung FilOil din.”
How about the opening ceremonies?
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the grand opening ceremony for UAAP Season 88 is expected to take place this September 19 at the UST campus in Sampaloc. But should there be heavy rains, UST officials assured that a contingency plan is already in place.
After all, the UST area has long been prone to flooding, while a potential La Niña episode by September could bring about more rainy days by the time Season 88 begins.
“Ang isang firm decision na ginawa ng committee, tuloy ang opening ceremony kung ordinaryong ulan lang. Of course, hindi naman ‘yung delubyo kasi wala talagang Plan B [on the spot],” explained Fr. Jeffrey Aytona, O.P., UST director of communications.
“Just in case talagang hindi kakayanin, it will be moved to next Monday. So, September 19 is a Friday, then next Monday, [September 22], that will be the rescheduled opening ceremony.”
What if heavy rains persist by September 22? While nothing is set in stone, school officials promised that they will continue to find a suitable date to hold the in-campus festivities.
“Kung talagang bumagyo, tuloy-tuloy ‘yung ulan, we will find another time to hold the opening of the UAAP. Kasi nga, we really prepared an outdoor opening program, so we really want it to have the opening diyan sa Grandstand and sa Open Field,” Fr. Cansancio said.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.