Safety and health protocols used by the Philippine Basketball Association over the last two years will most likely be followed when the University Athletic Association of the Philippines returns with its 84th season this year.
The league, through executive director Rene “Rebo” Saguisag Jr., have been in discussions with the PBA for the past months over their plans to restart their season.
“Tumutulong kami sa protocols. Nag-uusap kami sa protocols kung ano ang dapat gawin,” confirmed PBA commissioner Willie Marcial over his discussions with the UAAP, during Tuesday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
The PBA has been able to stage two tournaments under a bubble-type of setup for the past two seasons.
With the country in various stages of lockdown in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PBA held the Governors’ Cup inside a bubble at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Last year, the PBA did the Philippine Cup and the Governors’ Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University on Bacolor, Pampanga using a similar setup.
So far, COVID-19 vaccinations have began for student-athletes belonging to member-schools of the UAAP last October.
The league is looking forward to starting Season 84 in the first quarter of 2022 with its basketball tournament.
Volleyball events are being planned to be held after the Holy Week.
Member schools of the UAAP have been planning to have physical training activities in a bubble type of environment since October last year.
But schools have not pushed through with this, pending clearance from the Commission on Higher Education.
The league has been continuously refining its setup for months as organizers pursue plans to stage face-to-face competitions in 2022.