FOR flag and country, the UAAP is more than willing to make the needed adjustments as three big international tilts loom before the year ends.
Incoming 88th season host University of Santo Tomas and the league want to allow its student-athletes to serve national duty.
The country will host the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship in September, while athletes—many from UAAP schools—will see action in the rescheduled 2nd Asian Women’s Under-16 Volleyball Championship in Amman, Jordan, from Nov. 1 to 8, and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, in December.
With these events set, UST is already anticipating changes in scheduling and venue logistics as the new UAAP season comes off the wraps this September.
UAAP Season 88 President and UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. said the league is prepared to accommodate national team commitments, especially if called upon to lend athletes for the SEA Games.
“Kung may request coming from the national teams, that’s the time that we have to decide. Sabi ko nga before, we are open naman to adjust our schedule if there’s indeed a call and request for the UAAP to help in the national team,” Fr. Cansancio said during the ceremonial renewal of UAAP’s partnership with Cignal TV, last Monday at the UST Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
The biggest hurdle is expected in the first semester, with collegiate basketball and football likely to run through December.
Many UAAP student-athletes from those sports are expected to bolster Team Pilipinas’ SEA Games bid.
The rescheduling of the U-16 volleyball championship, initially set for July but moved to November due to the Israel-Iran conflict, also compresses the first semester calendar.
Many members of that youth team will also come from UAAP programs.
“If there’s a call and a request from the NSAs, the BMD and the BOT would agree and we’re willing to adjust our schedule, especially kung may players coming from the UAAP schools, just like what we’ve done before. If there’s a call and a request, we are more than willing to lend our players for the national team,” Fr. Cansancio said.
