Televising the UAAP Women’s Basketball Games 

By Sean Jhoyze Borres 

FOR THE first time in the history of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Women’s Basketball games during the elimination round will be broadcasted live on television. The decision of the league to feature all the Women’s Basketball weekend games on the UAAP Varsity channel spells good news for the fans and the teams. The ground-breaking sports channel is exclusively accessible via Cignal TV’s Channel 263 and the Cignal Play Premium app. As the much-needed airtime for women’s hoops goes on the screen, fans will be able to watch their favorite teams and choose from numerous channel options.

The UAAP Varsity channel—the official television channel of the league—was launched last year due to the UAAP’s rising popularity. It aired live sporting events, such as the cheerdance competition, the men’s basketball games, and the women’s indoor volleyball matches of Season 84. As most of the previous season had limited live audience viewing due to health protocols, the launch of the channel allowed fans to tune into these events from the comfort of their homes.

Apart from televised viewing, audience reach is also widened via mobile streaming as fans can stream via Cignal’s over-the-top platform that delivers content according to the customer’s preferences—the Cignal Play Premium app. Moreover, Smart Communications subscribers enjoy the exclusive perk of watching the basketball action via the Smart Giga Play app. 

Priming basketball fans for the upcoming season, the UAAP released the first round schedule of the Women’s Basketball Tournament last September. Teams are scheduled to play every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for the month of October, but live broadcasts are only available via the aforementioned channels on the weekends. 

The league’s monumental decision to give women’s hoops a share of the limelight will delight UAAP universities’ supporters, knowing that their favorite teams can now showcase their skills on the small screens. Having the games broadcasted will also allow fans to enjoy the game anytime and anywhere. Undeniably, there is still a long way to go in shifting the disproportionate number of viewers for smaller sports, but this is a step forward in furthering women’s recognition in the basketball scene.

—

Defending the Badminton Throne

By Alfonso M. Navarro

WITH THE return of badminton for UAAP Season 85, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton Team’s (AWBT) Mika de Guzman and Geia de Vera are ready to defend their UAAP Season 82 title.

Coming back from a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions is a tough challenge, especially when a championship title is on the line. After the departure of several seniors throughout the pandemic, de Guzman and de Vera return as co-captains, bringing a winning mentality that could help the team climb to victory this season.

The team captains began their collegiate careers by entering the AWBT together as rookies during UAAP Season 82. De Guzman and de Vera’s first year in the AWBT also witnessed their historic championship win, marking the team’s second back-to-back run in a span of seven years. However, after they swept the De La Salle University Lady Archers in the finals, the next two UAAP seasons of their college careers were put to a halt.

Returning from that break this year did not overwhelm the duo. Both de Guzman and de Vera are confident that with the solid bond formed during their rookie year, they can overcome any challenge they might face as captains. 

“It’s really easy right now. For other [captains], there might be friction. For us, it’s very diplomatic. And with friendship added, no sugarcoating, we’re really good partners,” de Vera expressed. De Guzman added that their goal as co-captains is to make the team, especially the rookies, feel like “one big family” throughout the season.

On the individual level, de Guzman has upped her game during the hiatus from the UAAP. The Season 82 Rookie of the Year competed in international play earlier this year, representing the Philippines in the Badminton Asia Cup and the Benin International. Given her experience on the international stage, the veteran de Guzman looks to perform at a masterclass level of play this season.

The prodigious shuttler’s competitive experience throughout this year is an advantage the Blue Eagles have in their arsenal. However, even with de Guzman at the helm, the question of whether or not the AWBT still has what it takes to win remains.

Shaking off the rust, the AWBT saw their first collegiate action in three years during the Philippine Badminton Association-Smash Intercollegiate preseason tournament. 

The Blue and White initially breezed through their tournament bracket, beating the University of Santo Tomas (4-1) and Adamson University (5-0). However, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons—their Season 82 championship rivals—swept the team in five straight games during the round robin matchups, rendering Ateneo unable to compete in the tournament finals.

Instead of seeing the loss as a roadblock, de Guzman and de Vera saw the AWBT’s shortcoming as a litmus test for the team’s performance. “It’s like an eye-opener for everyone, not just for the girls, but for the men as well. We really have to step up our game for [the] UAAP,” de Vera said.

Despite the three-year hiatus, the AWBT looks as ready as ever, for the winning culture that brought them success during Seasons 81 and 82 will help them to outlast the competition this time around, too. With de Guzman and de Vera confidently taking on leadership roles, there is much to expect from the Blue and White this year. The duo’s expectations, morale, and persistence are the keys to this team’s chances of defending the throne.Following their commanding victory over the University of the Philippines, the AWBT looks to continue their triumphant campaign in their next match against the De La Salle University Lady Smashers on Saturday, November 12 at 1:00 PM. In the same winning vein, the Ateneo Men’s Badminton Team will be facing the National University Bulldogs on Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 AM. Both events will be held at the Power Up Centro Atletico Badminton Hall in Quezon City.