Under construction. In preparation for the upcoming UAAP season, the historic Blue Eagle gym is currently being renovated. The renovation is just one of the many currently taking place as Ateneo hosts the UAAP this year. Photo by Abram P. Barrameda
Saying that the UAAP Basketball tournament has a following larger than the Philippine Basketball Association isn’t so baseless anymore, and with many up-and-coming rookies entering the league, it would be hard to argue against such a declaration. Such is what has become of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines; it has extended far beyond just basketball.
For several years, the UAAP has been the most prestigious, most popular and most commercially successful collegiate sports tournament in the country.
With Nike, Adidas, Accel, Gatorade and other major brands stepping in as sponsors, the UAAP has become more than just a yearlong sporting event; live broadcasts, care of media giant ABS-CBN, and the selling of specially branded apparel have commercialized the UAAP like never before.
The fans now range from the student communities of the different schools, to high school seniors dying to be accepted into a UAAP member school, to the ever-loyal true-blue and true-green families, and even up to those who have become fans just because of all the hype.
Hosting duties
After La Salle’s turn at the helm last season and UST the season before, Ateneo will host the UAAP for the first time in eight years.
“The responsibility as the general host of the UAAP is rotated among the eight member schools,” said Emmanuel Fernandez of the University Athletics Office (UAO).
The general host books the venues and fixes the schedule for the basketball and volleyball tournaments. Other sports have individual hosts which manage the schedules and venues among other things.
‘Magis’
July 9, 2011 is the scheduled date of the official opening of UAAP Season 74. As this year’s host, Ateneo has made very special plans for an opening day with hopes of elevating the standards. Traditionally, the UAAP opens with a one hour-long opening ceremony followed by the first basketball match of the year.
To officially commemorate the start of all UAAP sports, this year, the fans and athletes alike will witness the first-ever opening day that gathers all athletes from each of the eight UAAP schools.
“The UAAP has never had a formal opening for all sports. [The usual] opening day technically just opens the basketball season,” said Fernandez.
The UAO will be leading this effort in revamping the opening day of the UAAP which Fernandez described as nothing less than “magis.” Donning an Olympic theme for the opening set to be held at the Marikina Sports Complex, Ateneo is primed to make a mark in Philippine collegiate sports history.
ABS-CBN will be broadcasting the event live and will produce a video that features the torch run from all the eight schools. The torch run signifies the passing of responsibilities of a general host. This pre-taped run will be shown on screen after which the torch will arrive for the opening and an Atenean will light the cauldron.
“Naturally, the torch flame will be blue for aesthetic purposes,” Fernandez shared, with a bit of flair and excitement.
Olsen Racela, a true-blue Atenista, former King Eagle and living PBA legend, was chosen to carry the torch and light the cauldron.
The opening proper will feature opening messages from the Board of the UAAP and new Ateneo President, Fr. Jett Villarin, who will speak on behalf of the school. The Olympic-style parade of the athletes wearing their school jackets proceeds after the messages. The torch run and lighting of the cauldron after the parade signifies the opening of the games, as UAO Director Ricky Palou will declare the games officially open.
Also to be featured after the opening ceremony is a special two-hour program showcasing pure Ateneo talent. The Ateneo Boys’ Choir will kick things off with the “Song for Generosity.” They will be followed by a performance of “Lupang Hinirang” by the Ateneo Chamber Singers. A video by the Communications and Public Relations Office celebrating Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday will likewise be played to accompany the singing of the national anthem.
The Blue Babble Battalion will be doing dance numbers as well and they will feature a Blue Babble Drumline composed of 100 members from high school and college dressed in full gear. After three years of gradual build up, the UAO was able to obtain the necessary equipment for a battle-ready Ateneo drum line.
To conclude the night, crowd-favorite Sponge Cola will reveal the theme song for this season’s UAAP competition. Other bands will join in to conclude the day’s festivities.
Three-year planning
Such impressive preparations are not made overnight. The UAO has been preparing for hosting duties since 2008.
According to Fernandez, “The plans for such a grand UAAP opening have been in the works for three years knowing that [we’d] be the host for Season 74.”
Unlike previous years, the official opening of the UAAP will not feature any games. The focus is on the grand nature of opening day envisioned by the school. By doing so, Ateneo is daring to do what no other school has done before in the UAAP.
