Strict medical measures for athletes set as UAAP Season 88 begins
3
UAAP Season 88 opens at UST with big weekend basketball action
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) will welcome the collegiate community as it hosts the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremony on September 19 at the UST Grandstand and Open Field, with a massive crowd of 25,000 to 30,000 expected to fill España for what promises to be a festive launch rivaling the school’s annual Paskuhan celebration.
“Now the gates of España are wide open. The stage has been set,” declared UAAP Season 88 president Rev. Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., during the league’s pre-season press conference at the Dr. Robert Sy Grand Ballroom inside the UST campus. “To the UAAP community, we are more than ready to give it our all and release the loudest roar this season.”
UST continues its tradition of holding the season’s grand opening at home, unlike other schools that often opt for large arenas or coliseums. The following day, the spotlight shifts to the hardwood as the men’s basketball tournament takes center stage at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion with a jam-packed weekend of action.
UAAP SEASON 88
The opening weekend tips off on September 20, with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers beginning their redemption drive against the Adamson University Falcons.
On September 21, defending champions University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons launch their title defense against the host school UST Growling Tigers, setting the tone for a highly competitive season.
Also lined up for the first weekend are clashes between the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors and the National University (NU) Bulldogs, as well as the rivalry showdown between the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
Final dates for these two matchups will be announced shortly.
Cansancio explained that the opening games were drawn using the Season 87 final rankings (1 vs. 3, 2 vs. 4, 5 vs. 7, and 6 vs. 8). The basketball schedule will follow the same format as last year, with games set every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The complete first-round schedule for the men’s, women’s, and juniors’ basketball tournaments will be released just before the official tip-off on September 20.
With a grand opening program, powerhouse matchups, and the host school UST at the center of it all, UAAP Season 88 is shaping up to deliver a roaring start.
