DLSU UP opens its bid for a back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball crown against DLSU on October 1. UAAP photo

UP opens bid vs La Sallle in UAAP

September 20, 2022 Theodore P. Jurado 408 views

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines launches its bid for a second straight UAAP men’s basketball championship against La Salle in a mouthwatering match-up that will feature rising stars Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao on October 1.

The Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers cross paths in a rematch of last season’s Final Four at 4 p.m., as the league yesterday announced the opening weekend schedule.

Season 85 host Adamson and University of Santo Tomas collide in the first game at 2 p.m., right after the pre-recorded opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. which features the theme “Rise As One”.

Ateneo, which saw its three-year reign come to an end by Katipunan rival UP last May, opens its bid for redemption against Far Eastern University on October 2 at 4 p.m., right after National University and University of the East take the floor at 2 p.m.

The complete men’s basketball schedule will be released next week.

UAAP Season 85 president Fr. Aldrin Suan of host Adamson said that the league will take a break during the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November and all eight teams will play games during Wednesdays, similar to how the schedule was set up in Season 84.

“In line with contradicting schedules with FIBA, on Wednesdays all schools will play, on Saturdays and Sundays, only two schools will play. We anticipated the FIBA games already. We can expect UAAP (basketball) to end on Dec. 17,” said Suan during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum yesterday.

“Most venues ng games will be on Smart Araneta Coliseum or Mall of Asia Arena. We will release the schedule next week. Kapag hindi available ang dalawang venues, puwede sa Philsports Arena and Ynares Center (Antipolo),” he added.

From just eight events in Season 84, the league this time around will have a full calendar, among which is the return of men’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s beach volleyball and collegiate football competitions, which were not played last season.

The UAAP also announced that the Cheerdance Competition, one of the league’s biggest crowd drawers, is set on December 10.

“It can be expected that we will have a full calendar this UAAP Season 85, with 21 sports and a total of 60 events,” said Suan.

“Nag-resume na ang face-to-face. We hope na ma-reinstate na lahat ng events. As far as the UAAP is concerned, we are bringing things to normal, there is no reason na hindi tayo mag-resume sa lahat ng activities,” he added.

The UAAP, Suan added, will bring back the high school competitions after a two-year hiatus this season.

The league’s executive director Rebo Saguisag, who also attended the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), said the ringside area, which was closed in the Season 84 men’s basketball and women’s volleyball tournaments, will now be open to audience.

“The fans can now access the patron section, but the league will still implement a strict “no-contact rule” for players to fans,” said Saguisag.

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