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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/One Sports/UAAP) |
The second semester events of Season 85 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) head into full throttle with the Collegiate Volleyball Tournaments and, for the first time since UAAP Season 82, the men’s volleyball tournament will be held alongside the women’s games. The men’s games will have start times of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm while their women’s counterparts will play at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, respectively. Games will be played Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays.
“This schedule is the same as what Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) did during the aborted UAAP Season 82 tournament. We are just continuing our mission of promoting men’s volleyball, especially after their historic silver finish in the 30th Southeast Asian Games,” said UAAP Season 85 president Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM of Adamson University (AdU). “Some of the UAAP fans are calling this era the league’s ‘Inclusivity Era’ and we hope that we can continue to showcase all our student-athletes in future seasons to come,” he continued. The women’s volleyball tournament, meanwhile, was held last year with National University (NU) sweeping the tournament.
“The UAAP Season 84 saw the return of our women’s volleyball student-athletes after almost a two-year absence. It was truly inspiring to see them deliver their powerful spikes, dazzling digs, and, of course, create magical moments. Our platforms will continue to deliver world-class coverage and bring the UAAP closer to the fans,” said Cignal TV Inc. & MediaQuest President and CEO Jane J. Basas. Cignal TV, 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 live and on-demand on the Smart Livestream app. “Our volleyball tournaments are one of the most anticipated events in the calendar as it brings a younger fanbase. We at the UAAP would like to again emphasize our gratitude to our partners in Cignal for allowing us to showcase not just our women’s student-athletes but also our men’s student-athletes,” said UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag, Jr. “We at the UAAP are looking forward to not just promoting school spirit but also showcasing the values of fair play, competition, and, most importantly, sportsmanship through the channels we have,” he added.
Smart, an official broadcast partner, looks to continue serving the UAAP fans with fast updates on the games. “Backed by the Philippines’ fastest and best mobile network, we at Smart are excited to bringing the UAAP Season 85 volleyball games at the fingertips of fans around the country via the Smart LiveStream App,” said Smart Communications First Vice President Lloyd R. Manaloto.
