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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/UAAP) |
As the premier collegiate league in the country, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has partnered with sponsors and licensees who share its vision of providing an avenue for student-athletes to demonstrate their talents while receiving a quality education. In a press conference held last October 23, 2022 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the league formalized its partnerships with esteemed organizations Macbeth, Kairos Diagnostic Laboratory, and Havaianas. Each entity will bring its own expertise to the UAAP community and all parties are excited to hit the ground running.
For Macbeth, a Southern Californian apparel and footwear brand founded by Blink 182 member Tom DeLonge, partnering with the UAAP will allow it to broaden its market base. In fact, Macbeth has started to leverage its specialty for the UAAP community by providing uniforms for the league’s working staff. “Rock and roll and sports, why not? If you look back also at Macbeth — the Shakespearean play – it is what it is. It’s art in its purest form. It’s honest and uncompromising,” said UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag. “We’re actually in talks to do a few merchandises for the UAAP. For us to be part of the UAAP is opening another door to introduce to the younger market what Macbeth is. We’re also going to release next year a Macbeth athletics line so tying with the UAAP, I think, is the best way to promote what we have in store in the future,” said Macbeth Brand Manager Rhome Yu, who was a former table tennis athlete for Ateneo de Manila University.
When it comes to Kairos, it is already providing its expertise to the UAAP by servicing the league’s antigen testing needs for players, coaches, and other personnel. This allows the league’s games to push through while ensuring that their personalities involved will be safe from COVID-19 infection. “(It’s) very symbolic. ‘Yung Kairos, biblically, the meaning is the right moment or the right moment to make decisions. We have decided to open all events of the UAAP tsaka because of the testing, kami naman as Board of Managing Directors, we are confident enough to proceed with our tournament because we have the backing of ‘yung testing. Any data that will come up will be used to make decisions,” said UAAP Season 85 President Fr. Aldrin Suan. “Kairos right now is expanding on a regional level. It would depend on the UAAP on what they need in terms of healthcare for the athletes. We’re just here for any support that the UAAP needs,” said Kairos Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. David Thomas Catapia.
This Season 85, Havaianas is making a comeback with the UAAP. The renowned flip flops and sandals maker, which originated from Brazil, is partnering with the collegiate league for the first time since Season 79. This time around, Havaianas has more retail stores nationwide which allows it to reach more customers “This is, for us, also a refresh because you can feel the excitement post-pandemic. We’re very happy to be partnering with a newly-energized UAAP. We’re basically making a make-your-own Havaianas specifically for the UAAP. It’s a good way for students, and the fans – both young and young at heart – to be able to express themselves and their team spirit. They can basically customize their own UAAP (footwear),” said Anne Gonzalez, President of Terry SA Inc., the official distributor of Havaianas in the Philippines.
Indeed, the likes of Macbeth, Kairos, and Havaianas partnering with the UAAP will only allow all camps to maximize what each entity brings to the table. To build cohesive and more exciting offerings to the UAAP community, the fans, and all its supporters, expect the UAAP to come up with licensing partnerships this Season 85 and beyond.
