UAAP 83 called off with pandemic still raging

College sports in the country has been dealt a massive blow with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines have pulled the plug on the 83rd season, the first in 74 years that the premier school sports league has not been played at all.

Seven months after the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation had decided not to hold its own campaign, the UAAP had followed suit, in which it was the first time that they have not hold its sporting tournaments since 1946, a year after the second World War ravaged the nation especially, the nation's capital.

On its statement Friday evening, the league has emphasized the health and welfare of the student-athletes and those everyone involved in the competitions.

"After a series of discussions, the UAAP Board of Trustees came to this difficult decision, putting major consideration on the health and safety of the student-athletes and those involved in the operations of our competitions," it said.

The UAAP have been planning to only have its signature basketball and volleyball competitions inside a bubble for the academic year 2020-21 with De La Salle being this season's hosts. But the ongoing coronavirus pandemic had put a monkey wrench on its plans.

Furthermore, it also put a premium on the academics of the participating schools, as it also grapples with the drastic shift to full online classes which comes after the prohibition of all in-person activities.

The league added, "Both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Managing Directors will further discuss the implications of the cancellation for the guidance of the member-schools and student-athletes."

With the said announcement, there are already confirmations of two athletes that are going to the professional game: Adamson's basketball sensation Jerrick Ahanmisi and UP's football champion Kintaro Miyagi.

FILE PHOTO: THE UAAP