No one will be left behind.
The 1,214 student-athletes unable to play their events during UAAP Season 82 will receive honorary medals by the league.
According to Season 82 president Em Fernandez, the league decided on this to show the student-athletes that though they were unable to play due to an unforeseen event, they are still part of the season that was.
“Kahit ‘di sila nakapaglaro, we’ll still recognize them because they’re still a part of UAAP Season 82. So we’re trying to give them something to commemorate that,” Fernandez told Spin.ph.
“It’s for all who did not play and weren’t able to finish their tournaments. We just want to make them feel na we appreciate all of those months that they trained for the season.”
Last April 7, the league had no other recourse but to cancel the season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Cancelled or abandoned events included volleyball, football, baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis, and 3×3 basketball.
The league will do this for the collegiate student-athletes only, though.
The medals will come from the events that were not played out. According to Fernandez, the color of the medal given to each student-athlete will not matter, as this is a symbolic gesture from the league.
“We don’t want to forget them and for them to know that they’re still part of Season 82.”
The medals will be distributed to the schools or the student-athletes next month.
