UAAP to return to action on March 26

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will be making its way back on March 26 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Shelved for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, UAAP President Emmanuel Calanog announced the league’s return date during a media briefing on Friday. First up will be the league’s premier event—men’s basketball—and then, this will be followed by eight other events.

These are women’s volleyball, cheerdance, men and women’s 3x3 basketball, men’s beach volleyball, co-ed event poomsae, and men and women’s chess.

Although the venue has yet to be finalized for men’s basketball, Calanog said they are considering the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Filoil Flying V Centre, and Ynares Sports Arena, apart of the Mall of Asia Arena.

Games will be played three times a week—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and this will be done in a full bubble setup without a crowd. In addition, every school will play in every single playdate with games starting at 11 a.m.

Players must be vaccinated. Antigen testing will be conducted to everyone inside the bubble every game day while RT-PCR tests will be done every 14 days. League officials also stated that protocols are in place in the event an individual tests positive for the virus. (JNP)