Cancellation of UAAP Season 82

By Keith Candice Cruz |

The cancellation of Season 82 of UAAP was enforced due to COVID-19.

For the remaining second-semester, sports events were cancelled for the safety and welfare of student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans. Further, all the collegiate tournaments including high school events were suspended in accordance with the government’s declaration of public health emergency to aid in flattening the curve.

It is the first time in history that the UAAP cancelled a season.

The sports that were affected from the season cancellation were as follows: volleyball, beach volleyball, football, baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis, 3x3 basketball, and streetdance. Meanwhile, the league decided to officially end the junior’s division, efficiently canceling all the matches that are yet to be played.

It is then an indication that Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas will share the inaugural girls’ basketball championship since their best-of-three series is scheduled to go the full length with both teams splitting the first two games.

On the other hand, the crowd-drawing sporting event ran for a week, a total of four playdates since its delayed opening last March 3. Many of the players and fans, shared their reactions upon hearing the heartbreaking news.

Before the UAAP suspended all the events, some schools played for two games while De La Salle University and Adamson University only had one outing each.

With the number of COVID-positive cases, the government declared an extension of the ECQ until May 15, 2020. Therefore, the expected resumption of collegiate events under alternative formats of the competitions were supposed to begin no earlier than May 1, 2020, signed the agreement by the UAAP President, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Executive Director, Atty. Rebo Saguisag.

Including the National University men’s volleyball team member, Ricky Marcos, a graduating NU libero said the pain of learning that the season for him has ended; Blue eagles star Ron Medalla was still thankful for the good season he had despite the cancellation; Senior Mean Mendrez of University of the East also took a final bow.

Issues arising from the season will be discussed approximately. The league congratulates the people who made the latest season a success regardless of its cancellation.

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