Tradition will be broken when the 82nd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) gets going September 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Instead of holding basketball games to usher in the season, festivities will be held during the day.
Incoming league secretary-treasurer Em Fernandez of season 82 host Ateneo de Manila said this following turnover ceremony with outgoing host National University held at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“There will be no opening games. We’re having opening festivities,” said Fernandez.
During the turnover rites, Ateneo president Father Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J. took the hosting flag from NU president Renato Ermita.
Host Ateneo, according to Fernandez, also plans to adjust the league schedule as the Philippines hosts the 2019 Southeast Asian Games starting November 30.
With the men’s basketball action usually ending in early December, league officials are getting ready to compress the schedule and finish first semester games by the third week of November.
Under the proposed schedule, eight teams will have to play in four games every Wednesday.
On the other hand, the weekend games, are set to go on with the regular two-game schedule.