MATAPOS ang dalawang taong pagliban, ipinahayag kahapon ng UAAP na pormal na bubuksan ang coronavirus-stalled Season 84 sa March 26 sa pamamagitan ng centerpiece men’s basketball tournament.

Tampok rin sa bagong season ang marquee events women’s volleyball at cheerdance, bukod pa sa men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, men’s beach volleyball, poomsae, at men’s and women’s chess.

“It’s nice to have the UAAP back,” sabi ni league’s executive director Rebo Saguisag sa media briefing kahapon.

Huling naglaro ang UAAP noong March 9, 2020 sa pamamagitan ng high school basketball championship bago itinigil ng pandemic ang liga na siyang dahilan upang makansela ang nalalabing Season 82 hostilities, at ang buong Season 83.

Dahil sa patuloy na health situation, hindi pa rin makakagawa ang UAAP ng full calendar of events.

Sa tema ngayong season na “Fully Alive, Champions for Life”, sinabi ni UAAP President Nong Calanog ng host La Salle na mayroon pa ring opening ceremony, ngunit ito ay pre-recorded taliwas sa tradisyon.

Para sa men’s basketball at women’s volleyball, sinabi Calanog na itinakda ang game days sa Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at lahat ng mga koponan ay sasalang sa bawat petsa.

“We’re talking to our usual partners of Mall of Asia Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, and Filoil Flying V Centre. Also Ynares Center (Antipolo),” sabi ni Calanog.

“The main concerns are venues that have already ran tournaments so protocols are in place. We’ll announce the final venues in a couple of weeks,” aniya.

Ang matapos ang torneo ba walang aberya ay siyang prioridad ng liga.

“Basketball will finish first week of May, hopefully we can run the bubble really well. In case we play the Final Four and Finals full, I think we’ll finish May 12 more or less. After that we’ll play volleyball. Other sports will be played at the end of May,” sabi ni Calanog.

Sa kabila ng limitadong events ngayon season, may general championship pa rin na ibibigay, ayon kay Calanog.

Ang University of Santo Tomas ang reigning overall champion, kung saan nakopo ang ika-44 korona noong 2020.

Sinabi naman ni Saguisag na lahat ng student-athletes ay kailangang fully vaccinated upang maglaro sa UAAP, habang niluwagan naman ang eligibility rules para sa mga players matapos hindi idinaos ang UAAP sa huling dalawang taon.

Ang maximum age for players, na karaniwan ay 25 years old, ay magiging 27 dahil sa circumstance.

Sinabi ni Calanog na sa pagbuti ng health situation, umaasa ang UAAP na lalarga ang Season 85 sa October na may full sports calendar.

“Adamson is looking to open Season 85 in October,” sabi ni Calanog. “So there will be two basketball seasons in the same year. That will be hopefully in a more ‘new normal’ situation.”