UAAP

UAAP expands team rosters to 20 players

March 7, 2022 Theodore P. Jurado 2540 views

BRACING for any contingency regarding COVID-19, the UAAP has expanded the men’s basketball rosters from the usual 16 to 20 players for Season 84 which is set to open on March 26.

“Historically, the line-ups are 16 to play. So we added a COVID reserve of four players,” said UAAP President Nong Calanog in Noli Eala’s “Power and Play” program on Saturday.

“Just in case there are players…athletes who will contract COVID during the time, the teams can actually tap any of those four COVID reserves to replace the COVID positive player. But only for COVID reasons. Not for injury, not for anything else,” he added.

Playing in a full bubble at least for the first round, the UAAP men’s basketball games will be played every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with all eight teams playing every game day.

Instead of its usual 2-6 p.m. doubleheader which has been the league’s schedule since the start of the millennium, the games will be held at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Calanog said that despite the improving health conditions – there will be no fans and pep squads at least for the first round.

“I just want ask for patience from our fans and for those who are waiting for the UAAP. Our goal is to have our players play,” said Calanog.

The men’s basketball and women’s basketball tournaments will maintain a standard regular format of double-round eliminations, Final Four and Finals.

Aside from the men’s basketball, the women’s volleyball teams are also in bubble training. The women’s volleyball competitions will be played immediately right after the conclusion of the men’s basketball Finals around May.

Men’s beach volleyball, men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, men’s and women’s chess and poomsae are also in the Season 84 calendar of events along with the highly-popular cheerdance competition.

Calanog erased doubts that there will be an asterisk regarding the general champion with the limited number of sports in Season 84.

“I think it should be respected still,” said Calanog. “General champion iyan ng season regardless which of sports will run. I think this how it should be taken.”

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