Cignal TV and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines have launched the 18 UAAP student reporters who will be delivering comprehensive coverage of the much-anticipated games for Season 84. These correspondents will bring stories from the games that will be played initially inside a bubble due to the pandemic.
“Season 84 will be an abbreviated season but nonetheless promises to be as competitive and as exciting consistent with the UAAP that we have come to know and expect. It is important that we conduct the games even though times and circumstances are difficult and unfamiliar because these games serve a higher purpose,” says Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC of the De La Salle University, the host of this season’s games, during the media conference earlier this week.
“They are signed posts of the return of some semblance of normalcy amid the shared experience of uncertainty and even at the loss of lives. To many of us who have been following the UAAP for years, the games make us feel fully alive,” he stressed.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of the MVP Group of Companies, has guaranteed quality viewing experience for all.
According to him, “Cignal and Smart are privileged to cover the UAAP games for the first time. We are just as excitedas the athletes and the fans. We wish to assure the league that we live to our responsibility of raising our coverage and broadcast quality to a much higher standard to be the best coveror of the UAAP games ever.”
The correspondents group underwent rigorous training over the last few weeks from “OG” UAAP anchors like Boom Gonzalez and Mico Halili who are part of this season’s powerhouse pool of anchors and analysts, including professional athletes and coaches.
“There has been a lot of preparation for all of us,” narrates Martina Lao, from DLSU. “I’ve seen my fellow correspondents more than anyone. We’ve done workshops over the last few weeks with some of the best people in the industry. We’re not just covering sports but also giving the audience a lot of behind-the-scenes content.”
Collegiate sports fans can catch the live coverage of the UAAP Season 84 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 on its Smart GigaPlay app.
