UAAP successful despite intrigues, suspensions

MANILA, Philippines - Despite a Season 76 where suspensions almost became a staple with a sprinkling of TROs (temporary restraining order) and a dash of forfeiture as toppings, Fr. Maximino Rendon, C.M., the season president of host Adamson University, declared the first-semester competitions as successful.

“Season 76 was very successful despite the problems we encountered along the way,” said Fr. Rendon. “This we credit to the enormous support of students, alumni and fans to their respective schools.”

Suspensions marked Season 76, especially in the men’s basketball competitions, with University of the East bearing much of the brunt. Far Eastern University’s games in women’s basketball were also forfeited after one of the key Lady Tamaraws played in a club tournament while the season was ongoing, thus slamming the team’s chance to repeat as champions via a sweep.

TROs also shared the spotlight in juniors basketball and swimming – all aimed at the league’s decision to impose a two-year residency rule on high school graduates who transfer from one UAAP school to another.

But all’s well that ends well, according to Fr. Rendon, who stressed record highs were notched in both the Cheerdance Competition won for the first time by a resurgent National University, and the men’s basketball finals De La Salle topped – over University of Santo Tomas – in classic fashion.

The Cheerdance Competition recorded an unprecedented attendance of 20,830 fans last Sept. 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena, exceeding the 20,686 last season.

Then came the men’s basketball finals.

Games 1 and 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum were witnessed by 20,525 and 23,037 live audience, respectively. An unprecedented 23,696 cheering fans watched Game 3 at the MOA Arena.

The demands for tickets broke all ceilings of whatever altitude that scalpers got their share of the publicity – negative.

 â€œDespite all intrigues and controversies, the UAAP board (of trustees) was able to provide effective solutions to manage it well, and we think that’s what “Greatness Never Ends” means,” said Fr. Rendon.