New venues within the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City will be ready to hold events next year.
Their completion will address the need of organizers for sports infrastructure that can hold activities of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Diaz said they are getting sports facilities available once they push through with Season 84 in the first half of 2022.
“We are developing potential new venues for the UAAP. And we are about to finish three major facilities here in UP,” said Diaz during their regular Facebook updates on UAAP Talks.
The facilities include a baseball/softball field, a swimming pool, a football pitch and a track oval.
Diaz said the layout of the baseball/softball field is similar to the turf at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Field inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The football pitch is ready, but the track oval around it needs to be finished.
An aquatics center is also currently being built in compliance with international federation (FINA) requirements.
Diaz said the program to improve sports facilities inside the UP-Diliman campus was done through the initiative of University president Danilo Concepcion.
For now, organizers plan to hold a limited number events if Season 84 pushes through in 2022.
Executive director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag said they are considering this, with the logistical problems and the shortage of venues that that league is currently facing.
The league, according to Saguisag is prioritizing the staging of men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, cheerdancing events, and the opening ceremonies if and when they reopen.
The competitions and the opening rites will be held under a bubble, in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.