THE UAAP will fete its student-athletes, who made a big impact for Season 79 in today’s closing ceremonies at the Plaza Mayor inside the University of Santo Tomas campus.
The highlight of the festivities which will start with the streetdance competition at 4 p.m. is the much-awaited announcement of the league’s Athlete of the Year.
Last season, there were four winners, with Ateneo volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez, La Salle table tennis ace Ian Lariba, Ateneo tanker Jessie Khing Lacuna and Adamson softball standout Queeny Sababo sharing the league’s highest individual award.
The UAAP will also honor the athlete-scholars who not only excelled in sports but also in academics, while citations will be handed out to the league’s athletes who competed in various international tournaments during the 2016-17 season.
Outgoing Season 79 president Fr. Ermito de Sagun of University of Santo Tomas will turn over the UAAP flag to incoming Season 80 president Anton Montinola of Far Eastern University, who will also give the acceptance speech.
In the streetdance competition, three-time winner University of the Philippines seeks to maintaun its supremacy in the league’s final event of the season.
University of the East’s Armada will perform first, followed by Adamson University’s CAST, UST Prime, UP Street, Company of Ateneo Dancers, FEU Dance Company and La Salle Dance Company Street.
The season saw De La Salle regaining the men’s basketball throne, winning a back-to-back women’s volleyball throne and a perfect women’s football season, and Ateneo gaining redemption in men’s football and baseball aside from topping men’s volleyball for the third straight year via a 16-0 sweep.
Adamson University also shone by winning its seventh consecutive softball crown, while UST swept the women’s and men’s beach volleyball titles.
The Growling Tigers won a record 41st seniors’ general championship, ending the Green Archers’ year-long reign. UST also emerged triumphant in the juniors’ overall race, bagging a 17th title.