Two of the biggest collegiate leagues in the country gladly welcomed the development that the return to practice for collegiate teams is impending.
“The UAAP is committed to helping with this initiative as one of the stakeholders of collegiate sports in the country,” read the statement of UAAP Season 83 president Nongnong Calanog.
“We will craft guidelines based on CHED protocols,” said NCAA Season 96 president Fr. Vic Calvo OP.
Both leagues had to cancel their tournaments last year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
For the UAAP, the league called off Season 82 last April 7 with the indoor volleyball, football, baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis, and 3×3 basketball tournaments cancelled.
The NCAA, on the other hand, terminated its season last March 19 with indoor volleyball, football, lawn tennis, soft tennis, track and field, under-15 basketball, and beach volleyball, as well as the cheerdance competition being cancelled.
For its part, the UAAP will send over Executive Director Rebo Saguisag, Committee Chairman on Sports and Rules Dean Kiko Diaz from the University of the Philippines, and Far Eastern University Athletics Director Mark Molina to represent the league in the CHED technical working group.
On the other hand, Calvo said that the NCAA will still have a “no face-to-face classes, no practice” stance.
“As we wait for these guidelines, the UAAP continues to emphasize the importance of health and safety of our student-athletes,” read the UAAP’s statement.