Members of Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s seniors basketball team went to University of the Phillippines’ Diliman campus on Thursday afternoon.
It’s not because the Knights are going to play a tune-up game against the Fighting Maroons, though. Instead, UP will be their home for the next few weeks.
For the past week, the defending NCAA champions had been making do with what it had just to train.
With its gym’s construction delayed due to the ongoing pandemic, the Knights trained in the campus’ quadrangle in Intramuros. For almost a week, the team trained on cement floors and under the heat of the almost-summer sun.
Then Letran would find an unlikely helping hand from a UAAP member school – UP.
UP opened its doors to Letran to enter their “bubble” in Diliman.
“We are thankful to UP for opening its doors to us,” expressed Letran Athletic Director Rev. Fr. Vic Calvo, OP. “We are also grateful to the Commission on Higher Education’s sports division for allowing us to join UP’s bubble.
“Our team just started its training a week ago, but the sessions were held in our quadrangle. We had to think outside of the box because of necessity,” he continued.
“With the help of UP, we can now prepare well for our season.”
A Third Bubble
UP’s Diliman campus already has two bubbles inside of it – one for its men’s basketball team and the other for its women’s volleyball squad.
Creating a third one took careful planning from Letran and UP.
Officials from both schools and CHED held almost-daily meetings for a new set of protocols.
In the approved protocols, both the Knights and the Fighting Maroons cannot come in close contact with one another.
This meant that the 19-player Knights contingent stayed in a dorm far away from the Fighting Maroons’ residence hall. They are also assigned to train at UP’s College of Human Kinetics Gym.
On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons are training at Epsilon Chi Center.
The distance between the two gyms is at least 750-meters away.
Current protocols also won’t allow the Knights and the Fighting Maroons to meet in tune-up games.
Friendship Goes a Long Way
The idea of staying in UP did not actually come from the officials of either school.
It was an idea that came up between Knights head coach Bonnie Tan and Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The friendship between Tan and Monteverde dates back to 1991, when the two were still upstart coaches in St. Stephen High School.
Despite going their separate ways, their friendship remained intact. In fact, it was Monteverde who recommended former National University Bullpups Jeff Mailim and Jimly Lantaya to Letran.
“Kami ni Coach Gold go a long way, so when he knew that we needed help with our training, tinulungan niya kami,” expressed Tan. “Of course, we are very happy that UP lent us one of their gyms, and thankful kami sa CHED for approving the protocols.
“Malaking tulong ito sa amin.”
Gracious Hosts
UP’s protocols have reportedly gone beyond the standards set by CHED, which includes weekly testing and on-the-clock schedules.
“Right from the start, UP has been compliant with the very stringent health and safety protocols laid out by CHED to mitigate the spread of COVID since the time CHED granted a return to face-to-face training for our student-athletes,” said College of Human Kinetic Dean Kiko Diaz.
Despite knowing how hard it is to get protocols approved, UP still lent a helping hand to Letran. After all, both schools are about to embark on the same battle – albeit in different leagues.
“We welcome Letran to our campus, and we look forward to providing them a meaningful time as they prepare for their collegiate league.”
For its part, Letran vows that it will follow the house rules set by UP and CHED. After all, it’s the only way they can repay UP for opening their home to them.
“We will ensure that our players will follow the strict health and safety protocols to keep the bubble safe and intact,” said Fr. Calvo.
Letran will stay in UP until before the NCAA season begins.
As of publishing, the target date for the start of UAAP Season 84 and NCAA Season 97 is on March 26.
