THE ASEAN University Games (AUG) is a competition that gives member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) the opportunity to engage with each other through the field of sports. The games are held every two years in different host countries across Southeast Asia. Previously held in Palembang, Indonesia in 2014, the 18th AUG will be held in Singapore from July 10 to 19, 2016.

The Blue and White has always been a top contender in qualifying for a spot in the national team to be delegated to games. In the AUG 2014, Blue and Lady Eagles from the Swimming team, specifically Jessie Lacuna and Hannah Dato, and the entire Women’s Volleyball team were sent to compete for the Philippines.

The Katipunan-based players did well in the international scene, as Lacuna was able to bag one gold and one bronze medal, while Dato dominated the aquatic center with three golds, two silver, and two bronze medal finishes. In contrast to these two tankers, who are veteran international players, most of the members of the Women’s Volleyball team were playing for the Philippines for the first time. Despite this, they still managed to land the third place spot.

Selection process

It is the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) which selects the representatives of the country to each AUG. According to College Athletics Office Director Benjo Afuang, the UAAP board decided that the delegates for team sports such as basketball and volleyball would be the champion team of that same season.

Usually, this is not a problem, as the AUG is held during December. However, Singapore–this year’s host–opted to hold the tournament during the month of July. Meaning, the deadline of submission for the lineups was made before the conclusion of the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Volleyball tournament, which the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers won eventually. This answers the question as to why the Lady Eagles were the ones chosen to represent the Philippines during the international competition.

The decision was made by the UAAP board to send the Season 77 champions, which were both from the Blue and White, to compete in the AUG 2016 volleyball championships. According to Afuang, this was agreed upon by both the Ateneo and the DLSU representatives. While the Ateneo Men’s Volleyball team emerged as back-to-back champions this UAAP season, the Women’s team fell to the DLSU Lady Spikers.

However, the selection process for individual sports is different. The UAAP board simply selects the best individuals from all UAAP-member teams, after taking into consideration the opinions of the various coaches involved. These athletes are financially supported by the UAAP, unlike those competing in the team sports, who pay for their own expenses.

Problems encountered

Unfortunately, there will be no Philippine representative in the Men’s Basketball competition, since this year’s UAAP champions, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, opted not to send their squad to the AUG. The reason behind this being that it is usually protocol for the chosen team delegates to be financed by the UAAP-member school that they hail from.

In addition to the inability to send a team, basketball is traditionally a Philippine bailiwick in the Southeast Asian sector, with the country’s cagers dominating over its neighbors. According to Afuang, members of the ASEAN University Sports Council (AUSC) hailing from their respective countries usually advise against sending a team from the Philippines due to the constant dominance of any Filipino-composed basketball team.

Another factor is the sheer difference between the costs of sending a team against the chance of bagging a medal, which has been the case for Philippine football. While the Azkals remain a prominent team in the Philippines, the country’s program still lags behind its neighbors, particularly Malaysia and Vietnam, which are football-dominated countries. Football is also one of the sports that needs a large contingent to work, which further strains the limited financial ability of our athletics agencies.

“It’s still possible to send,” Afuang said, referring to the decision to field a football team to the AUG. “Budget-wise, it would be more practical to send teams with a higher chance of competing.”

In addition to the two volleyball teams, the individual players in the competition will be composed of key players from the previous UAAP championships and non-UAAP team members.

Expecting to make waves in the games from the Ateneo Swimming team are Axel Ngui, Hannah Dato, Eman Dapat, Aldo Batungbacal, Giancarlo Silva, Raegan Gavino and Ariana Herranz—who helped take home the triple championship in the Men’s, Women’s, and Juniors divisions this past UAAP season. Competing in the Athletics events are blue tracksters JB Capinpin and lady trackster Kim Zulueta. Lastly, the sole representative from Ateneo’s Fencing team is lady fencer Justine Joseph.

Bearing the Philippine flag from the non-UAAP teams include the Ateneo Rifle-Pistol Team members, namely: Ian Quintin, Nicole Mercado, Leonard Floresta, Jose Luis Altoveros, Jordan Cruz and Sherry Gonida— who will be participating in the Shooting events— while, Dranz Barbin from Ateneo’s archery team is set to enter the Archery division of the games