By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
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The UAAP will evaluate its course of action after the bid of long-time partner ABS-CBN for a fresh 25-year legislative franchise was denied on Friday by the Congress.
UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag said they have to “choose what is for the best interest of the UAAP community” after the Congress broke the heart of the ‘Kapamilya’ network via a 7-11 vote.
UAAP and ABS CBN officials were in the middle of negotiations when the National Telecommunications Commissions ordered the country’s largest network to stop its operation last May 4.
The partnership between ABS-CBN and the country’s glamorous collegiate league ended last May 31.
“(The UAAP will) proceed as planned: conclude negotiations, evaluate,” said Saguisag.
Saguisag added the league is also not closing doors on “considering other parties, if necessary.”
Partners since 2000, UAAP extended their deal in 2014 with ABS-CBN providing additional coverages on other sports apart from basketball, volleyball and cheerdance.
“We commiserate with our long-time partner, but this is ultimately a business decision that the Board will have to make using their best judgment,” Saguisag said.
The UAAP, however, has more time to prepare and evaluate after Season 83 was pushed to the first quarter of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The league still intends to hold a full calendar schedule for the next season despite the global health crisis, which crippled the sporting world.
“We have an obligation to these athletes and right now, we’re just doing our best on laying down plans on how to make it work,” Saguisag said in an earlier interview.
The league is leaning towards squeezing in all 15 sports in a “Southeast Asian Games-style” where all events are being held simultaneously.
Another plan is to hold centerpiece and crowd-drawing sports like basketball and volleyball inside a smaller venue without an audience.
At the moment, the league is monitoring the government protocols both in holding sporting events and the status of the school calendar year.