THE UAAP is looking to include new sports in the league’s already loaded calendar of events come Season 86 later this year.

The just-concluded Season 85 saw the returning to full calendar with 60 events spread in 21 sports in the college and high school divisions.

Incoming Season 86 president Rod Roque bared on Saturday moments after the closing ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena where University of the East accepted the hosting chores from Adamson.

“Well, meron kaming talks about inclusion of additional sporting events, then again it’s still raw, still in the process of talking so we have to iron out first the rules and regulations,” said Roque.

“There are other sporting events that are coming in for UAAP but we have to make the decisions on those. We will announce in the future what are those sporting events but they’re very exciting,” he added.

In Season 85, high school beach volleyball was included in the general championship tally after its Season 82 debut was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, while high school 3×3 was introduced as a demonstration event.

The incoming host is confident that it will be another successful season for the UAAP as all eight members always support each other during the entire eight months.

Roque shared that their co-members have already thrown their full support to UE for the next season, which will tentatively open on September 30.

“My first time was Season 77 (2014-15) and with the help of the seven other member-universities, it was a breeze,” said Roque.

“On my part, honestly I don’t feel kahit a little pressure kasi yung eight member-schools we work together kaya sabi nga nila, they’re going to give me their 101 percent support when we start hosting,” he added.

UE is already hard at work four months before Season 86 with incoming chairman Dr. Zosimo Battad pulling all the stops for a smooth hosting.

“We would like to announce that our theme would be ‘fUEling the Future’. We will fuel a brighter future for the UAAP,” said Battad, who received the symbolic flame from Season 85 chairman Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, CM.

“It will be a tough job. We have 85 years of UAAP tradition to live up to but with the very experienced sports director (Rod Roque) on my side, I know we can do it and we’re confident that with the support of everyone, we’d be able to host the Season 86 of the UAAP,” he added.

As hosts, Battad said the Red Warriors are aiming to enter the Final Four in men’s and women’s divisions of basketball and volleyball while also seeking to preserve their stranglehold of fencing and judo.

“We’ll try to make it in the Final Four sa basketball men, volleyball women and men. With a very experienced coach in Ai Lebornio, I think we’ll hope to do well also in basketball women,” said Battad.