The University Athletic Association of the Philippines has assured the community that it is simply a case of business as usual for the amateur league despite the “resignation” of its chairman Dr. Zosimo Battad, who is the president of Season 86 host University of the East.
In a press conference on Saturday, UAAP officials stressed that the league’s various events at the high school and collegiate levels will carry on normally. Moreover, Dr. Battad’s exit from his position is not final as it has not been stated in a letter.
“The resignation was said verbally,” said Season 86 president and UE athletics director Rod Roque. “There was no written resignation yet.
“What I can say is that maybe it’s because of the height of emotion, spur of the moment, yung bugso ng damdamin that’s why he was able to say that.
“But there will be a Board of Trustees meeting this week and we’re going to clear it up as soon as the BOT meeting is done. We’ll update you on that resignation issue,” the amiable athletics director of UE continued.
When it comes to the sudden leave of absence of basketball commissioner Xavy Nunag due to a family health crisis involving his wife’s pregnancy, the UAAP is adamant that Atty. Mariana Lopa is more than capable of handling all technical-related matters in the final matches of the men’s and women’s divisions as well as in the boys’ high school competition.
Lopa will be in charge while Nunag will attend to his personal issues. Deputy Commissioner Marvin Bienvenida will assist her in fulfilling her role. Together, they will see to it that the league’s basketball tournaments will continue running smoothly.
“I think the one thing about the Commissioner’s Office is that the systems and the mechanisms were always in place,” she said. “Though we didn’t expect this to happen, it’s always good to have a contingency. Being an office of the commissioner is no longer just one person in the post, it’s business as usual as far as the Commissioner’s Office is concerned.
“There will be no interruption of our work. The work will stay the same. We will continue to the teams’ queries for as long as they send after games when they ask for plays for review. We’ve been responding to the teams and trying to keep an open line of communication between the teams and our office.”
The UAAP has been home to several student-athletes who have not only brought glory to their respective schools but also won international competitions for the country. This is something that will never change as the league will persevere to live up to its theme this season of ‘fUEling the Future’.
There will be a lot more games to play the league closes its first-semester sports and moves to its second-semester events. Student-athletes will continue to have their time to shine, coaches will remain lively on the sidelines, and fans will continue enjoying the action.
The league has mechanisms in place to arrest these types of developments and events will continue as usual.
“Instead of focusing on someone taking a leave of absence or filing a leave of absence, maybe you can also focus on the mechanisms in our institutions that are in place (for) succession. That’s why deputies are there,” said UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag.
“I don’t want to preempt Chairman Battad but that’s why there are vice chairmen. That’s why I refuse to call them spare tires. In the case of Atty. Mariana, hindi lang siya naka spare tire. Mariana, Marvin, and the rest of the team have been very busy since even during the pre-season so nothing really changed,” he continued.
“Of course, someone has to mentioned. Si Xavy nung una and the league, but they’ve been working together and I’m very confident that acting commissioner Atty. Mariana is up to the task. So let’s give our institutions a chance to grow and let’s see how this mechanism will take place.”
