With guidance from the Philippine Basketball Association, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines returns with its 84th season on March 26 under safe conditions.
Participating athletes, coaches, and team officials will be transported to the game venues by designated vehicles and back to their respective school premises and places where they train at the end of every game day.
These safety and health protocols, which have been used by the PBA over the last two years, will be implemented all throughout the season.
“For now, we are included to maintain the bubble, and the training done by athletes in their respective schools and dorms. They will be shuttled straight to the venues and back,” said UAAP executive director Rene “Rebo” Saguisag Jr., adding the league has been in discussion with the PBA in the past months over their plans to restart.
Over the last two years, the PBA has been able to stage at least one tournament under a bubble-type setup.
With the country in various stages of quarantine in 2020, the PBA held the Governors’ Cup under a bubble setup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Last year, the PBA did the Philippine Cup and the Governors’ Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University on Bacolor, Pampanga using a similar setup.
So far, COVID-19 vaccinations have begun for student-athletes belonging to member-schools of the UAAP starting in October.
The women’s volleyball event is being planned after the Holy Week when basketball action is over.
The plan to start Season 84 under a bubble setup will still be implemented even though the National Capital Region is now at Alert Level 1, with many restrictions lifted.