It's UAAP game time

Today at 4 p.m. in the afternoon is the final game of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Seniors Basketball between Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Too bad my alma mater, De La Salle University, was suspended for the whole season (don’t worry, we’ll be back next season). But anyway…here’s a few glimpse of the games’ rich and colorful season.

It was during the summer of 1924 that Dr. Regino Ylanan, who was then the Physical Education Director of the University of the Philippines (UP), saw the need to regulate and set athletic policies among tertiary institutions of the era. Thus, as an invitation was issued to private schools in Manila to organize an athletic association. Several institutions, namely the University of Santo Thomas (UST), Manila University, National University (NU), De La Salle College, Ateneo de Manila University, and the Institute of Accounts (now the Far Eastern University) responded to the invitation. One week after its initial meeting, it formally adopted a constitution and bylaws calling itself the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

But as NCAA became popular, UP felt it was being too commercialized and together with UST and NU, they formed a triangular meet. The 3 universities will later called them as “The Big 3”. The NCAA board gave its approval on condition that NCAA scheduled events would take precedence over the use of sports facilities. The three universities agreed with Mr. Dionisio D. Calvo of the UST, Mr. Leon G. Tirol of NU and Prof. Candido C. Bartolome of the UP (all Directors of Physical Education) signing the Article of Agreement.

The Big 3 as it was called became a success and on April 6, 1932, its Article of Agreement was renewed. It was also during this time that these three universities seceded from the NCAA. The big 3 continued for the next six years until the Board of Directors of the UP Alumni Association suggested to then UP President Jorge C. Bocobo that a new inter-university athletic be instituted. Having taken initiative, first with the NCAA and then with the Big 3, it was only natural that the UP again take the reins of leadership to organize a university athletic association. The representatives of the three universities together with the Far Eastern University, which was already dominating the sports scene of the period, met at the PAAF Office. They formally organized the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on September 27, 1938. The first sports events were basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball, football, swimming, and track and field. UP won titles in baseball, track and field. UST took the titles in football and swimming, while FEU won the basketball event.

In its past 63 years of existence, the UAAP has provided student-athletes with quality competitions. Fostering camaderie and sportsmanship will always be its main objective. Due to well conducted competitions, talented athletes have attracted interest from national sports associations. Some actually join national teams. Outstanding athletes on the other hand have been given opportunities to participate in international competitions on a university level, namely the Universiad and just recently, the ASEAN University Games.

Here are some interesting trivia on the history of the UAAP:

1. UP, NU and UST are the founding members of the UAAP with FEU joining later.
2. The 1^st UAAP game was in 1938.
3. The University of the East (UE) was admitted on probation on March 29, 1952. On May 5 also of the same year, Adamson University (ADU), University of Manila, and the Manila Central University followed suit. Of the four new applicants, only two, ADU and the UE attained permanent status.
4. Manila Central University and the University of Manila were former members but didn’t make the full membership status.
5. ADMU joined in 1978 due to the violent NCAA games. DLSU also withdrew in 1981 for the same reason and later joined the UAAP in 1986.
6. A unanimous vote is needed to be a member school of the UAAP until 1985 when Dr. Nicanor Reyes Jr. proposed a 2/3 majority vote to become a member school. This later proved to be a break for DLSU whose membership was denied 3 times by ADMU and UST.
7. UP is the only State University in the UAAP. The rest are private schools.
8. 4 of the member schools are run by religious orders. Jesuits (ADMU), Christian Brothers (DLSU), Dominicans (UST) and Vicentian Fathers (ADU).
9. Perhaps the greatest collegiate rivalry (and still today) was the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. The rivalry came be traced back to their NCAA stints and later carried over at UAAP.
10. Among the popular venues of the basketball games from the past and present are; Rizal Memorial Stadium, Philsports Arena (ULTRA), Blue Eagle Gym, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Cuneta Astrodome, Makati Coliseum and Araneta Coliseum.
11. "The Cheer dance Rivals": Since the inception of the UAAP cheer dance competition, UP and UST have had the best winning records, and one is usually just a runner up to the other. Both schools' pep squads are famous for their stunts and high-energy performances.
12. How does the member school get to host a season? Looking at the logo, turn it clockwise and the circle on top is the current host. This season's host is UE.
13. The UAAP logo represents the 8 member schools and their school colors. Gold and White (sometimes black) for UST, Green and Gold for FEU, Blue and Yellow for NU, Blue (Dark) and White for ADMU, Green and White for DLSU, Blue (Light) and White for ADU, Red and White for UE and Maroon and Green for UP.

Blogger's Note: the full history of the UAAP can be found in http://uaapforums.yehey.com/?page_id=5