MANILA, Philippines – Don’t be surprised if you no longer hear teams singing their respective hymns after games in the upcoming 79th Season of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.
It is because school hymns must now be sung before the game.
Veering away from a decades-old tradition, UAAP chief Fr. Ermito De Sagon of host school UST on Tuesday said the league has decided that the playing of school hymns should be conducted during warm-ups.
"It [singing of hymn after the game] might not be the best time because everybody's tired," said De Sagon at Tuesday's press conference at Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City.
Not everyone is delighted though with the league’s latest decision.
Tony Atayde, a vocal supporter of La Salle, was among those confounded by the UAAP’s move. He noted how the Green Archers started the tradition many years ago.
Word has it that the UAAP has banned the singing of the Alma Mater after games. They want it sung before the game. Hay naku!
— Tony Lebron Atayde (@asgreenasitgets) August 30, 2016
La Salle was the first to sing the Alma Mater after a game in 1965. The rest just followed. I don't understand this move.
— Tony Lebron Atayde (@asgreenasitgets) August 30, 2016
Are you in favor of singing your school hymn prior to the game, or would you rather stick with tradition? Let us know in the comments section!