Organizers will skip a season after cancelling the games of the 83rd University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
School officials will instead push through with season 84 after season 83 was called off for the second straight time.
Executive director Rebo Saguisag said this after the league formally entered into a broadcast partnership agreement with Cignal TV yesterday.
“We will have to move on to the next season,” said Saguisag.
Strict health and safety protocols, and the continuing threat of the coronavirus pandemic have compelled school officials from staging the 83rd season of the UAAP for the second straight year.
Season 84 will commence with its tournaments in the school year 2021-2022.
Saguisag said the decision of the board will affect the eligibility of student-athletes and they will tackle this issue soon.
The last time the UAAP had a series of cancellations was in 1941, following the outbreak of World War II.
There were no activities for the next five years, and then competitions resumed in 1946.
The league’s new broadcast partner Cignal TV signed up with the UAAP a pact for the next five years with president and CEO Robert P. Galang and their chairman Manny Pangilinan.
Saguisag represented the UAAP board with league president Emmanuel Calanog of current host de La Salle University.
Under such a collaboration, selected events of the UAAP will be aired live on One Sports channel and its other digital assets.
In a statement, UAAP officials said this will ensure “an engaging and expansive coverage across different multimedia platforms.”
Its affiliate network, TV5, with its experience in sports production, is expected provide the UAAP with a strong foundation in its efforts to promote collegiate sports in the country.
The partnership will run until 2026.
Also at the contract signing were Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president, and Smart Communications, Inc. and Chief Revenue Officer, PLDT Group, Alfredo S. Panlilio, UAAP Board Of Trustees Chairman Brother Raymundo Suplido, FSC, UAAP President Emmanuel Calanog, UAAP Vice President Fr. Aldrin Suan, UAAP Treasurer and Chairman of the Negotiating Panel Edwin Reyes and UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag.
