DELAYED for a few days, the highly anticipated University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) officially opened Season 87 with a Basketball Press Conference on Wednesday morning at the Novotel, Cubao.
The UAAP will inaugurate an enlarged basketball tournament with three divisions: collegiate men’s and women’s basketball, as well as the newly introduced junior high school under-16 boys’ basketball tournament.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
The University of the Philippines (UP) is hosting this season after nearly eight years. Bo Perasol, a member of the league’s Board of Managing Directors, brought this up during the press conference.
“Last eight years pa po last nag-host ang UP, and since then, UAAP has grown in many ways. Maraming nagbago, pero marami pa ring luma,” Perasol jokes, while mentioning returning UST head coach Pido Jarencio.
“Eight years ago, I was also seated where coach Tab [Baldwin] was seated, and that was eight years ago already. Marami na pong pagbabago.”
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
Despite the changes that have occurred over the years, Perasol underlined this year’s theme “Stronger, Better, Together,” with the goal of remaining unified in improving the league for the next generation of athletes.
Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag, the UAAP executive director, was also in attendance, along with league commissioner Xavy Nunag who then spoke to the media about some of the major changes coming this season.
Eligibility strip offs
As previously stated, the UAAP’s eight member schools have accepted a revised residency rule for collegiate transfers from one member institution to another.
Starting with Season 87, an athlete transferring to another UAAP member school will serve the customary one-year residency, but will be stripped of one playing year, for a total of two years lost under the new rule.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
“The UAAP, as a collegial body, decided that any transfer made after the academic year 2023-2024 will not only incur the usual residency requirement but will now be charged with an additional eligibility year, making it a total of two years,” said Atty. Saguisag.
When news of this rule arose last June, Senator Pia Cayetano expressed concern that it could impede student-athletes’ personal development. The Senator is the creator of the Student-Athlete Protection Act.
However, Attorney. Saguisag stated that the league is ready to “defend” its new rule, adding that the wellbeing of student-athletes is of “paramount importance” while establishing such policies.
Game on
The much-awaited season will resume on September 7, Saturday, welcoming back the fans with the opening ceremonies at 11:00 AM, bannered by the Filipino rock band Eraserheads.
Meanwhile, the hostilities will start at 6:30 PM on the same day, including an early ‘Battle of Katipunan’ between the UP Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On September 8, held in the same venue, the UE Red Warriors will face the UST Growling Tigers at 1:00 PM, followed by the Adamson Soaring Falcons vs. FEU Tamaraws at 3:00 PM and the DLSU Green Archers vs. NU Bulldogs at 6:30 PM.
This season’s games will be hosted at a variety of venues, including the Smart Araneta Coliseum, SM Mall of Asia Arena, and Adamson University Gym, with three tournaments taking place simultaneously.
