THE UAAP is set to kick off its 84th season on March 26 in a bubble after a nearly two-year hiatus and another season in October.
League executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag admitted holding two seasons in a year is taxing but it’s a good problem.
“Ang mindset I guess would be it is a problem, but it is a problem that we would rather have right now,” Saguisag said in a press conference at the Hai Chix & Steaks restaurant in Pasig.
“I’d rather have this than no events at all. Wouldn’t you?” he added.
Saguisag said the season kicking off at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay will be under a full bubble set-up with no fans allowed, with the teams coming straight from their in-campus bubble to the venue.
“We’ll try to maintain the bubble. There will be dedicated vehicles that will come straight to game venue,” Saguisag said. “We prioritize the health and safety of each of the student-athletes.”
The centerpiece events men’s basketball, women’s volleyball and cheerdance lead the league’s calendar that also includes men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, men’s beach volleyball, poomsae, and men’s and women’s chess.
UAAP president Emmanuel Calanog of host La Salle said the chances of having spectators at the arena hinges largely on the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
“As the executive director (Saguisag) mentioned, we’ll ask for more patience from our fans and our media partners. At the very least for the first round, we’ll maintain a strict bubble,” Calanog said.
“It will depend on the science and the data by that time. If things turn out well, at least we’re in a bubble and the government won’t stop us (whatever the situation is).”
Calanog said all squads will play three times a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11 in the morning, 1:00 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 ‘o’clock.
The MOA Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, The Arena in San Juan, and the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig are being considered as venues of the cage wars.
