By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

SEASON 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) officially rolled out last Sunday with the group underscoring “a higher level of sportsmanship and excellence” for the brand-new year of the high-profile collegiate league.

Opened with ceremonies held at the Mall of Asia Arena, UAAP Season 82, hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University, is touted to see athletes and coaches go for greater things, enhanced further by the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games later this year, which, in turn, it hopes to inspire the whole nation.

“We’re always asked, challenged to do the greater thing,” said Ateneo president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ, of host school Ateneo, at the season opening, as he laid the direction that the new UAAP season will be charting. “We as a country, we are hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games so it is another occasion for us to come together as Filipinos and I hope that is something that is also a greater thing to do beyond our teams, beyond our schools,” added Mr. Villarin.

The opening was ushered in by the Ateneo Glee Club’s moving renditions of Teach Me To Be Generous and the Lupang Hinirang, and then featured top local bands like Sponge Cola, Itchyworms, Autotelic, December Avenue and IV Of Spades and performances by the Ateneo Dance Club and the Blue Babble Battalion.

Aside from Mr. Villarin, the other members of the Board of Trustees who attended the ceremony were De La Salle University’s Br. Rey Suplido, University of the East’s Dr. Ester Garcia, Far Eastern University’s Dr. Michael Alba, National University’s Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita Jr, University of Santo Tomas Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, University of the Philippines’ Dr. Michael Tan and Adamson University’s Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim.

Also at the opening, the UAAP said that it is expanding the league calendar, adding new sporting events in both collegiate and high school divisions to give more student-athletes a platform to showcase what they can do.

“Starting this season, 3×3 Basketball will be an official sport. For the high school division, we are adding Boys’ and Girls’ Lawn Tennis as demo sports and Boys’ and Girls’ Beach Volleyball as medal events,” announced UAAP President Em Fernandez.

For the past two seasons, 3×3 basketball was a demonstration sport. With the active participation of all the member schools, the league has deemed to upgrade it as an official sport, raising the medal events in the collegiate level to 31.

Far Eastern University will serve as the sub-host for this season’s 3×3 basketball tournament that is set to take place on March 2020.

On the other hand, lawn tennis and beach volleyball in the high school division will be making its debut.

Beach volleyball, which will be sub-hosted by University of Santo Tomas, will open its curtains on January 2020 while lawn tennis, which will be sub-hosted by National University, is scheduled to take place on February 2020.

ATENEO BLUE EAGLES FAVORITES
Meanwhile, the marquee UAAP men’s basketball will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 4, with the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles considered to be favorites anew.

Going for their third straight UAAP title, the Blue Eagles open their bid against the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the scheduled 4 p.m. match.

Owing to its Ateneo’s deep and battle-tested roster, steered by champion coach Tab Baldwin, the opposing UAAP coaches believe that championship glory still passes through the Blue Eagles.

“It’s a given that Ateneo is going to be on top,” said University of the Philippines coach Bo Perasol, whose team finished runner-up last year.

He was seconded by Adamson coach Franz Pumaren, saying, “It’s Ateneo and they should be rated number one. From player one to 16, skills-wise, they’re all the same.”

Ateneo will be headed by veterans Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, and twins Matt and Mike Nieto.

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