Already one of the country’s premier sports and recreational centers, the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, has inaugurated new facilities designed to enhance the experience of athletes, teams, and fans alike.
Just before the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament opened with a clash between archrivals De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University, a ceremony was held on Saturday afternoon to bless and showcase the hub’s new grandstand and player dugouts.
“It is my pleasure to greet everyone here today as we celebrate this remarkable milestone: the inauguration of our newly enhanced facilities during UAAP Season 88,” said Nona Torres, Senior Project Development Head.
“We are excited to unveil key improvements to our sports hub, including the brand-new grandstand and dugouts. Our bleachers now comfortably and safely accommodate 1,200 spectators, providing excellent views for an electrifying game-day experience,” she added.
“The locker rooms have been thoughtfully upgraded with modern showers, changing areas, recovery zones, and secure storage — offering athletes a comfortable and functional space to prepare and recover. These enhancements perfectly reflect Vermosa’s commitment to being a premier environment for sports excellence and well-being.”
The Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub now joins the list of venues that have hosted UAAP football over the past decade, including Rizal Memorial Stadium, the PFF National Training Center, UP Diliman Football Stadium, Circulo Verde in Quezon City, the FEU-Diliman turf, Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo, and McKinley Hill Football Stadium in Taguig.
For UAAP Football Tournament Commissioner Rely San Agustin, adding another venue reflects both the growth of the competition and its role in developing local sports.
“Having the UAAP community be the first to experience these upgrades is truly a source of pride,” said San Agustin. “We believe these enhancements will foster even deeper engagement, passion, and support for football and sports in general here at Vermosa.
“This is a testament to Vermosa’s vision of being a world-class hub that nurtures athletes at all levels — from grassroots to elite — and promotes an active and dynamic lifestyle.
“I want to congratulate Vermosa, the teams competing this season, and especially the pioneering women’s squads from Ateneo and De La Salle. May this tournament be a platform for showcasing skill, teamwork, respect, and the relentless pursuit of greatness,” he furthered.
On the pitch, La Salle edged Ateneo 1-0 in the women’s opener, while University of Santo Tomas followed with its own 1-0 win over University of the Philippines to wrap up the first matchday.
A day later, in the men’s division, Ateneo blanked Adamson University, 3-0; UP slipped past University of the East, 1-0; and UST prevailed over La Salle, 2-1, completing the first round of matches at the Cavite venue.
The Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub will continue to host UAAP football fixtures in the coming days, with both the women’s and men’s collegiate divisions resuming play on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
