UAAP eyes expansion
An expansion of sporting events is in the pipeline for Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines set to begin in September.
University of the East officially accepted the hosting duties from Season 85 host Adamson University during the closing ceremony held last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UAAP Season 86 president Rod Roque bared that there have been initial talks among the eight member schools about the possibility of adding more events to the league’s calendar.
“We already had some talks about the inclusion of additional sporting events. Then again, it is still raw and we’re still in the process of talking,” said Roque, who was also the architect of UE’s successful hosting back in Season 77 eight years ago.
“So, we have to iron out first the rules and regulations and everything before we bring it out to the media,” Roque added.
According to league rules, a minimum of five teams must participate in a sporting event for it to be staged.
“There are other sporting events that are coming up for UAAP but we have to make a decision for those. We will announce in the future what those sporting events are,” Roque said.
The UAAP brought back its full calendar for the athletic year 2022-2023 for the first time since 2019. The league also opened its doors to the high school division following a three-year pandemic hiatus.
Last year, the league only had seven sports competitions held in the seniors division as collegiate action returned following a shortened Season 82 in 2020.
Held in Season 85 were the men’s and women’s basketball, badminton, chess, table tennis, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, swimming, athletics, cheerdance, judo, taekwondo, men’s and women’s football, men’s and women’s volleyball, fencing, softball, baseball, 3x3 basketball and lawn tennis.
High school competitions were boys’ basketball, 3x3 basketball, girls’ and boys’ volleyball, football, boys’ and girls’ beach volleyball, athletics, chess, table tennis, swimming, taekwondo, judo and fencing.
Side events, seniors and juniors street dance and ballroom formation competitions were also staged.
University of Santo Tomas captured both the seniors and juniors divisions general championship for the fifth straight year.
It was the Tigers’ 6th straight and 46th overall general title and the Tiger Cubs’ seventh consecutive and 22nd overall.
Season 86 is tentatively scheduled to kick off on 30 September with the theme “Fueling the Future.”