Following the success of UAAP Season 87, the Season 88 Football tournaments are set to deliver another action-packed competition marked by changes, returns, and new additions.
Rely San Agustin, now serving his 10th consecutive year as Tournament Commissioner, expressed pride in the league’s continued progress after last year’s campaign hosted by Far Eastern University.
“The last season for me was successful. In terms of the men’s division, we saw an exciting final between Far Eastern University and Ateneo de Manila University that went into a shootout. In the high school boys’ division, we saw FEU-Diliman’s reign end after 12 years, with University of Santo Tomas winning its first-ever UAAP championship,” San Agustin shared.
“And also, I would like to point out that in the high school boys’ division, we were able to have guest teams in Claret and Southridge, which created quite an impact, especially for the division; finally, they had a semifinal round. It was just so nice to see these new teams having the support from their communities,” he added.
“It was a good experience, and I’m happy to say that they will be back for Season 88.”
This season, tournament host University of the Philippines made key adjustments to the collegiate schedule to accommodate two major international events: the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, which the Philippines will host in November, and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
The move ensures that UAAP student-athletes can answer national team call-ups, while also giving the local football community the chance to support the squads.
“Season 88 will be very special for us, not only for the league, but for the country. We have, of course, the U23 men’s team participating in the SEA Games, and we also have the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup that will commence on November 21,” said San Agustin.
“So, I think, in support of these two major events, the UAAP has decided that we will adjust our schedule to make sure, as a sign of unity, that when these two tournaments commence, the whole football community is there to either support by watching it or by being in the venue onsite.”
The women’s tournament will follow a compressed format, with matches every Wednesday and Saturday, and is expected to conclude by November 15 — just days before the Futsal Women’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, the men’s division will run until November 23 at the latest before pausing for the SEA Games.
Action will resume in January and run until the Final Four by February, returning to its usual format.
San Agustin emphasized that the scheduling adjustments are also aligned with commitments made to the Philippine Football Federation.
“This is a promise that we made to the Philippine Football Federation. As the former tournament director of the World Cup’s LOC, this was part of the plans to make sure that we’ll fix the schedule so that the whole UAAP community can come out to support our national teams,” he said.
Another change this season is the return of the twice-to-beat advantage for the top two teams in both the men’s and high school boys’ divisions — a move meant to heighten competition until the very end of the season.
“We decided to bring back the twice-to-beat advantage so the teams, especially those in the top four, will continue to put pressure on themselves and make sure to be the first- or the second-placers so that they have the advantage. That way, they won’t be complacent, and anything can still happen in the latter parts of the second round,” San Agustin explained.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
After featuring two guest squads last season — PAREF Southridge School and Claret School of Quezon City — the high school boys’ division welcomes a new participant from within the UAAP.
“I want to mention that for the high school boys’ division, I’m happy to announce that Adamson will be coming in to participate. So, we will now have seven teams, and more matches for the boys. Exciting times for that as we’re starting to grow the numbers,” San Agustin said.
The high school boys’ tournament is expected to kick off alongside the final day of the men’s eliminations, similar to previous years.
