No stopping UAAP, NCAA seasons

MANILA, Philippines – The NCAA and the UAAP yesterday said their respective basketball seasons will push through as scheduled despite the growing incidence of A(H1N1) cases among students of some of the leagues’ member schools.

“We’re going ahead with everything,” said NCAA president and San Beda rector Mateo de Jesus.

In fact, the NCAA Board has approved the recommendation to cancel the ABS-CBN pre-season tournament to allow the teams and players to take a well-deserved rest and ensure the unhampered opening of both leagues’ cage seasons.

“This will also prevent any possibility of spreading any illness in such contact sports as basketball,” he said.

The giant TV network has earlier put up a P1 million pre-season tournament pitting best of the UAAP against NCAA’s finest.

“The UAAP will open as scheduled,” UAAP president Anton Montinola of Far Eastern U also said.

The virus has reportedly hit member schools like College of St. Benilde, Mapua and Perpetual Help in the NCAA, forcing the suspension of classes in line with the Department of Health’s 10-day self-quarantine advise.

La Salle was the first UAAP school to have been hit by the virus two weeks ago while Ateneo had reportedly a number of cases last week.

There had also been reported cases among players of Far Eastern U and University of the East but top officials of the two schools dismissed these as mere cases of common flu.

De Jesus said there are also plans to come up with preventive measures during NCAA games.

“We are discussing moves to secure the possibility of zero spread during the games through thermal scanning and other means available at our disposal,” said de Jesus.

“We will announce at an appropriate time decisions on this concern and other issues,” he added.

UAAP basketball tournament director Mark Molina said the schedule pitting UST against Adamson at 2 p.m. and last year’s losing finalist La Salle versus University of the East at 4 p.m. on July 11 will not be affected.

University of the Philippines squares off with National U at 2 p.m. and defending champion Ateneo tests Far Eastern U’s mettle at 4 p.m. on July 12.

NCAA will have reigning three-peat titlist San Beda against Mapua at 2 p.m., Jose Rizal versus Letran at 4 p.m. and Perpetual Help against San Sebastian at 6 p.m. in its own opening day salvo on June 27.

St. Benilde opens its bid against guest team Angeles University Foundation at 2 p.m. while Arellano U and Emilio Aguinaldo College, the two other guest squads, debut at 4 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan City on June 29.

“There are no changes as far as the NCAA schedule is concerned,” said NCAA management committee chair Jose Mari Lacson of San Beda.