After a two-year pause, the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) resumes in the local sports scene, kicking off the brand new season 84 with the tagline 'Fully alive, champions for life!'
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the games will be played in a bubble where no crowds or observers are allowed. Throughout the season, teams will stay on their own campuses and will be shuttled to and from venues.
The UAAP also revealed that they intend to let crowds and media into the UAAP season 84 venues by the second round of the men’s basketball competition which has no specified date yet.
The much anticipated senior men's basketball league will be the first to be set inside the collegiate bubble. Cignal TV, the official broadcast partner of UAAP and SMART, will provide the most comprehensive coverage possible.
In a press conference aired over TV5, coaches Goldwyn Monteverde of UP, Nash Racela of Adamson University, Jeff Napa of NU, Derrick Pumaren of De La Salle, Olsen Racela of FEU, and Jack Santiago of UE said that this season, the Blue Eagles are still the squad to beat. It was Jino Manansala of UST who did not provide a decision.
Tab Baldwin, Ateneo's head coach, feels that the competition would still be challenging despite the team's status as the presumed favorite.
The first game of the season began on March 26 with a schedule of:
Far Eastern University (FEU) against University of Sto Tomas (UST) at 10 am
National University against Adamson University (AdU) at 1 pm
Ateneo Blue Eagles will face the University of the Philippines (UP) at 4 pm
De Lasalle University against the University of the East (UE) at 7 pm
The game schedule was constructed in such a way that disinfection treatments for the venue could be executed.
The Adamson Soaring Falcons fell short against the National University Bulldogs as they welcomed their first UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament on-court game, 69-71, last March 26 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Joem Sabandal struck 11 points, same with Lenda Douanga, who had 13 rebounds. Keith Zaldivar was able to knock the nine points advantage of Bulldogs with a three-point shot during the third quarter.
Lastimosa put up five straight points for the Soaring Falcons and took a 60-56 lead. The last 7 minutes of the said quarter started to show the trading 3-point big shots between both teams.
With less than two minutes left to play, the score tied at 67-all. Bulldogs fueled their offense, leading them to top the score game 67-71. A solid layup for the basket by Lastimosa with 41.8 seconds remaining notched the two-point, 69-71.
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