But men’s basketball, the centerpiece of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), would not solely hog the spotlight in the 2002-2003 season but also the 12 other sports regularly calendared by the country’s premier amateur league.
"Basketball has always been the flagship sport of the UAAP but the league finds it as important beginning this season to put emphasis on the other sports where athletes pour in the same effort, dedication and drive as the cagers," said Sonny Paguia, the UAAP’s 2002-2003 president, of host National University.
The eight-school UAAP also has volleyball, taekwondo, judo, lawn tennis, table tennis, baseball, softball, chess, swimming, athletics, football and badminton in its calendar.
Competitions in the 12 other sports are spread out over the school year’s two semesters. Member schools are made to host at least one of these sports.
"We intend to put equal billing to the athletes who compete in the other sports, all of which are played in the Olympics, Asian Games or Southeast Asian Games," said Paguia.
"That way, the athletes would earn mileage at least in media, a privilege we believe would push them further and perhaps, turn them into potentials for international competitions," Paguia added.
The Araneta Coliseum in Cubao is again expected to be filled to the rafters in tomorrow’s noontime opening ceremonies which will be graced by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain and will be aired live over ABS-CBN’s Studio 23. Two men’s varsity games – University of the East against University of the Philippines at 2 and Ateneo against host National University at 4 – kick off hostilities in a season where the league put in additional safeguards against possible controversies.
According to Paguia, more stringent eligibility rules have been imposed this season, including extending to five years the so-called "history or whereabouts" of a freshman athlete.
A team of officials would be headed by commissioner Joe Lipa, whose talks include orienting referees and coaches of the Basketball Referees Commission on the high level of quality and fair play the UAAP intends to achieve. Lipa has been working out with the Barecom referees for the past six weeks.
The UAAP will also hold games at the Big Dome on Sunday before shifting to the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum for most of its matches. The Makati Coliseum will also play venue to a number of basketball games this season.
Defending champion De La Salle plays at 4 p.m. Sunday against Far Eastern at the Big Dome. The other actions pit Santo Tomas against Adamson in an 11 a.m. juniors game and again Santo Tomas against Adamson in the 2 p.m. seniors action.