La Salle Set to Host Challenge-Filled UAAP Season 83

Last Saturday saw the Ateneo de Manila University close the Season 82 of the University Athletic Association (UAAP) thru a virtual closing ceremony. It has been a season filled with ups and downs for Ateneo as its men's basketball team won their third straight championship via a clean sweep of the basketball tournament last year. On the other side, the Ateneo Lady Eagles didn't even get the chance to defend their title as the women's volleyball was one of the second-semester events that got canceled due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. By closing Season 82, the team from Katipunan Avenue officially turned over the hosting duties to their rivals from Taft Avenue: the De La Salle University. 

Unfortunately for the guys in green, hosting Season 83 will not only be challenging but, it will also be filled with uncertainties.

To begin with, students won't be allowed to go to school which means student-athletes aren't allowed to train with their teams as Metro Manila is still under the general community quarantine which doesn't allow contact sports to be held. Yet.  And while the UAAP is hoping to open Season 83 by the first quarter of 2021, that opening in the early goings of next year is not yet written in stone as without the presence of the proven vaccine against COVID-19, the health and safety of all UAAP student-athletes. Health and safety of the student-athletes. Two important things that La Salle President, Brother Raymundo Suplico, said they don't want to risk. And while stating the need for them to continuously excel for the love of sports, Brother Suplico reiterated the importance of doing so with resilience and fortitude. And to top things off, La Salle will also take over the task of finding the league its new media partner as ABS CBN Sports has been shut down by the Committee on Legislative Franchises in the House of Representatives denying the renewal of the broadcasting company for a franchise renewal. 

For Season 83, UAAP will be working with the motto: "Fully Alive. Champions for Life" which is to lead by example on accomplishing the league's mission to champion excellence in sports both on and off the court despite the ongoing pandemic. 

Photo is from Inquirer Sports