CHANGE AND heroism: this is what to expect as De La Salle University (DLSU) takes the reigns as the host school of the UAAP 73rd season. Coinciding with their centennial celebration, DLSU has a lot in store from the opening ceremonies up until the turnover at the end of the season.
DLSU was originally slated to host season 75 but opted to switch with National University. The Taft-based school did this to greater celebrate their centennial as well as make it known to their students, alumni and affiliates on a bigger scale.
Where heroes are made
“Heroism through sports is a theme that aims to highlight our need for heroes in our country today as well as remind us that everyone can be hero,” said DLSU Office of Sports Development Director, Edwin C. Reyes.
DLSU aims to realize this vision by reaching widening their reach and involving the student body. Each school will get their own superhero, inspired by their monikers, and will be revealed at the opening ceremonies in July.
“We want something palatable to a broader market,” said Reyes.
They also plan to get students from all UAAP universities involved through exhibits showing heroism. They will be displayed at game venues, with people being able to vote for several campaigns.
“We will have something similar to CNN Heroes where students can text in a student from their university and why they deserve to be called a hero,” said Reyes.
Viewing and venues
When the UAAP negotiated with ABS-CBN for a new TV deal, exposure for sports aside from basketball and volleyball was a priority. A huge step was taken when ABS-CBN agreed to telecast nearly all UAAP sports.
“ABS-CBN will telecast all UAAP sports, especially the finals, except for chess for obvious reasons,” said Reyes.
To provide better venues, DLSU consulted with other universities and decided to hold all indoor sports in air-conditioned arenas. This means UAAP events such as judo and fencing will no longer be held at the Blue Eagle Gym but at locations such as the Ynares Sports Arena along Shaw Boulevard or the Arena in San Juan.
The UAAP has had an annual problem of having their closing ceremonies, which include the Overall Awards and the turnover to the next host school, going unnoticed. DLSU aims to solve this by changing the nature of the event all-together.
Instead of having the ceremonies in the campus of the outgoing host school, DLSU will hold the ceremonies in the Araneta Coliseum where it will also be televised. To make it a crowd-drawing event, an inter-school street dance competition will be held during the ceremonies.
“We want the atmosphere to be better than a basketball game, or at least on the same level,” said Reyes.
Tickets, tickets, tickets
A major change in this year’s UAAP tournament is ticket distribution, a controversial subject especially when it comes to men’s basketball.
Last year when Far Eastern University decided to have a separate ticket for the Ateneo-La Salle match, DLSU saw this an opportunity. This practice will now be applied for all men’s basketball games.
After each match, people watching the first game will have to exit the stadium in order for the people for the second game to enter. But due to the expenses of printing and the venue, ticket prices will remain the same having access to one less game. Araneta Coliseum has also committed to have Upper A as reserved seating only.
“Unfortunately we have Araneta which is too big a venue for some games and Arena which is too small for some. We don’t have a medium sized venue that’s why these steps may be necessary,” said Reyes.
Although Reyes admits the logistics will be difficult he says all of these are in the experimental stage. “We can always go back to the old method next year,” said Reyes.
Finally, in another revolutionary step, DLSU hopes that online ticket reservation will be available by the time volleyball season comes around during the second semester.
