New-look UAAP expects to soar higher

Varsity basketball’s best and brightest players display their wares once more as Season 68 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines cage wars unfolds on July 9 with the usual pageantry at the Araneta Coliseum.

"It’s going to be an interesting season," said this year’s UAAP president Fr. Max Rendon, C.M. of host Adamson in the media launch yesterday, adding that it has instituted some changes to make the season more exciting.

Far Eastern University, last year’s second placer, takes University of the East at 4 p.m. while University of the Philippines tackles University of Santo Tomas at 2 p.m. right after 1 p.m. opening rites that will be highlighted by the traditional parade of all eight participating teams.

This year’s main theme is "Soar Higher," which the league hoped to achieve with a number of changes in the season, including the tapping of new set of referees under Joe Lipa, this year’s commissioner.

"Officiating has always been our problem. We hope this time, we can solve this by having our very own set of referees," Rendon, said.

"And we’re closely coordinating with the NCAA headed by Fr. Edwin Lao of Letran and we hope this could be a long term relationship," he added.

Aside from officiating, Rendon also announced the UAAP board’s decision amending an old rule that allows students from graduate schools to play.

"Starting next year, the UAAP will no longer allow players from graduate school to play," Rendon said.

Rendon also turned down the Philippine Basketball Association’s proposal to draft UAAP players in mid-season. "There is a time for that, maybe we’ll discuss that at the end of the year. But at the moment we stood on that rule that no players will be allowed to be drafted while playing in the UAAP," said Rendon.

The league has also renewed ties with Studio 23, television giant ABS-CBN’s UHL channel, after the two signed another five-year term.

"This is the first year of another five-year relationship with the UAAP. We’re really excited about it," said Studio 23’s Peter Musngi.

All but one coaches graced the event with new Ateneo coach Norman Black and La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren, who happened to be the former’s former player and assistant coach for 12 seasons with San Miguel Beer in the PBA, chiding each other as mentors of archrivals Blue Eagles and Green Archers.

"I’ve an idea how he runs practices because I’ve worked under him for more than a decade and he texted me just now that he’ll be using the same style," said Pumaren, referring to Black.

"It’s been many years since I last worked with him but Franz is still a comedian," answered Black.