Sports fans are excited over the return of UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) games for its 84th season after more than two years of inactivity.
The UAAP Season 84 kicks off with the men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With the pandemic still prevailing, the tournament will be held in a bubble.
The organizers, however, are optimistic that the fans may soon watch live the second round of the games, roughly after two weeks depending on the pandemic situation in the country.
UAAP Season 84 will see the return to the hardcourt of fan favorites, among them DLSU's Justine Baltazar, UP's Ricci Rivero, and Ateneo’s Angelo Kouame.
It will also see CJ Cansino and reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy change their jerseys.
CJ, former captain of UST Growling Tigers, has joined the UP Fighting Maroons; Mark, also from the same team, is now with the DLSU Green Archers.
The two athletes were among those who quit UST's senior basketball varsity team after their bubble training in Sorsogon City, which allegedly violated COVID-19 protocols at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
UST's former head coach Aldin Ayo, who took responsibility for the mess, has since been banned from the league.
The UAAP Season 84 men's basketball is expected to run up to the second of May.
The women’s volleyball tournament will kick off tentatively at the end of May and will run concurrently with other sports, among which are beach volleybal and men’s 3×3 basketball
UAAP's highly anticipated cheer dance competition will also make a return but, as of press time, the date and venue are yet to be determined.
While fans will not be allowed in the venues for now, Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), the official UAAP partner and digital broadcaster, will stream live the basketball games as well as the women's volleyball tournament and cheer dance competition exclusively on the GigaPlay app for free, but for a limited period only.
Smart subscribers can download GigaPlay on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, set up an account, and watch their preferred game on the GigaPlay content lineup while connected to Smart mobile data or PLDT Home WiFi - without worrying about data charges.
To learn more about GigaPlay, visit www.smart.com.ph/Pages/GigaPlay.
READ MORE: