Minus the fans, collegiate season is finally back (Sabong News)
Author
Ramon Bonilla
Date
MARCH 11 2022
The scene of normalcy today is closer to what we have been longing for two years. Much to the delight of sports fans, the big leagues are just around the corner—some with access to live audience and others making the most out of a go signal to hold tournaments but without the semblance of the old atmosphere that was a sea of supporters from the casual game-goers, the ear-busting beat from the percussion group at the bird’s-eye section, and those with a mouthful of banters that were livid, if not insulting to the opposing team. Truly, it’s game time.
Two of biggest collegiate leagues in the country are set for a return late this March. Thanks to the continuous downtrend in Covid-19 cases which resulted to the easing of restrictions, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines (NCAA) have gained clearance to kick off their respective seasons that were abruptly ended when the pandemic struck our senses to a forgettable stretch of history in March 2020.
The 84
season of the UAAP, which will be hosted by the De La Salle University, will open on March 26. The setup is much like the scene of a bubble tournament, with fans still barred from the venues that will be dotted on the usual sites such as the Smart Araneta Coliseum and FilOil Flying V Centre in Quezon City, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
There will be nine events: the action-packed men’s basketball and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, men’s beach volleyball, poomsae, men’s and women’s chess, and the colorful and exciting cheerdance competition.
The NCAA also penned a March 26 opening for its 97
season, with the opening ceremony tentatively set at the La Salle Greenhills Gym. The centerpiece men’s basketball will make its return right after the simple rites, with defending champion Letran going up against the challenge of other powerhouse teams San Beda, Lyceum and San Sebastian.
If fans would miss the live action in the collegiate ranks, it was a different story for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the league saw its biggest audience on March 6 with 6,802 gate receipts at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. As the National Capital Region shifted to a more relaxed Alert Level 1 status, the PBA moved back to its full capacity for games. Thousands of supporters trooped to the venue, with the attendance exceeding the 4,800 record last Christmas.
In volleyball, the Premier Volleyball League has released its schedule for the March 16 opening along with the matches for the Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila.
There’s also the Ronda Pilipinas 2022, which will unfurl today in Sorsogon City. The 10-stage race will snake through the roads of Bicolandia up to the slopes of Baguio City for its high-altitude finish on March 22. Fans are expected to line up through the route, with professional cycling and leisure biking shooting up to national relevance during this pandemic.
As we take our trip to our old routines, let us not forget the practices that taught us how to move forward in this extraordinary time. Vigilance comes handy along with resilience. With sports embracing change and adapting to new measures, observing the safety protocols is the least that we can do to help the industry strive even more.
