The University Athletic Association of the Philippines will open its 85th season on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena with live coverage from Cignal TV and Smart – the official UAAP broadcast partners.
This time around, season-host Adamson University calls on the entire community to RISE AS ONE as the league looks to hold a complete calendar for the first time since Season 81.
“Now, we are back and full of life,” said UAAP Season 85 President Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM of Adamson University. “For the past two years, it’s not just the UAAP that was affected. The entire world was affected.”
“Emotionally, economically, socially, in one way or another, we were down. We are hoping to use the UAAP as one of the platforms in helping bring the new normal to the Filipino people. As we RISE AS ONE, we are back to being full of life,” he added.
Besides Men’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, Cheerdance, Chess, Beach Volleyball, and Poomsae, the league is looking to hold a total of 60 events across 21 sporting events this season.
For Men’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, and Cheerdance, Cignal, the country’s leading pay-TV provider, will be airing the events via One Sports (free-to-air), in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel (pay TV), and Cignal Play (OTT streaming). Smart will also be digitally streaming the UAAP events on its Smart GigaPlay app.
“Last season was a surprising and inspiring success and we saw how everyone was eager to watch the games, especially after the forced hiatus,” Cignal TV and TV5 President & CEO Robert P. Galang shared. “We’re very happy to bring this new season to the fans in the comfort of their homes once again, so they can continue to enjoy the games and cheer for their teams as if they’re watching live inside the playing venues.”
Men’s Basketball games will be held every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday with Wednesday games airing at 11AM, 1PM, 4:30PM, and 6:30PM. Weekends will have double-header schedules in the afternoon.
For Women’s Basketball, Wednesday games will also have a quadruple-header schedule and will be held at the UST Quadricentennial Pavillion. Meanwhile, weekend games will be held in the morning with games airing exclusively live on the UAAP Varsity Channel.
“We are excited that collegiate sports is fully back with women’s basketball opening our festivities this weekend. We are grateful to Cignal as it will air the women’s basketball games during weekends on the Varsity Channel,” said UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag, Jr.
“We at the UAAP are looking forward to once again showcasing the will, perseverance, and resilience of all our member schools across platforms that are catered to today’s fans,” he added.
