UAAP virtual closing ceremony to honor heroes on, off court

UAAP Season 82 will officially wrap up on Saturday, July 25 at 4 pm even as the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended the action in the country’s premier collegiate league.

The league will honor University of Santo Tomas as general champions for both the high school and seniors divisions. It will be the sixth straight overall championship for the Tiger Cubs and fourth straight for the Growling Tigers.

Also set to be recognized are the Season 82 Most Valuable Players for high school and college, while selected athlete-scholars from the different universities will also be feted.

Sticking to Season 82’s theme of “All For More,” the UAAP will likewise pay tribute to the efforts of schools and athletes by honoring those who have done charity work during the pandemic. 

The closing ceremony will be held online on the ABS-CBN Sports website, Facebook, and YouTube accounts, with delayed telecast on LIGA cable sports channel at 7 pm.

UAAP Season 82 president Em Fernandez of host school Ateneo said the event will be a culmination of the first and second semester UAAP sports, highlighting the success and hard work of the student-athletes of the 8 member schools and its athletes who were unable to complete their season following the cancelation of games last April due to the pandemic.

“Lalabas ‘yun doon sa closing ceremonies, just to highlight na, one, as a community, as a nation, we are here to help everyone. And two, itong mga atleta na hindi nakapaglaro or natapos, they are part of Season 82,” said Fernandez.

(We’ll highlight in the closing ceremonies that, one, as a community, as a nation, we are here to help everyone. And two, the athletes who didn’t get to compete or finish their campaigns are still part of Season 82.)

Last April 7, Season 82 events volleyball, football, baseball, softball, track and field, lawn tennis, and 3×3 basketball were either canceled or did not start at all.

Dedication

The online gathering, according to ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena, will celebrate the dedication of all athletes and the efforts of the UAAP community, noting that it has always been their mission in ABS-CBN Sports to honor and pay tribute to the work and dedication of athletes, no matter what the circumstances or challenges the sports organization is confronting. 

“ABS-CBN Sports remains faithful to its commitment of promoting the values that sports teaches all of us. It is in this light that we want to pay tribute to our athletes who put in months of sacrifice and preparation to be able to play at a high level in the UAAP. We hope they stay hungry and passionate about the game they love, and we cannot wait to see them playing again,” he said. 

Spicing up the celebration are feature performances by ABS-CBN artists Ylona Garcia and Iñigo Pascual. 

Sponge Cola and Itchyworms, the Pinoy rock bands that performed the official UAAP Season 82 anthem “Ang Ating Tagumpay” at the opening ceremony, will also make a special appearance. 

Fans will also be able to look back at last season’s game highlights as well as hear from some of their favorite players. 

To formally end Season 82, there will be a virtual turning over of hosting duties of Ateneo to De La Salle University for Season 83

ABS-CBN Sports has been the official broadcaster of the UAAP since 2000. Together, they have championed sports among the Filipino youth, have given a break to many young, talented athletes, and strengthened the local sports community in the past two decades. – Rappler.com

Watch the UAAP Season 82 closing ceremony on Saturday, July 25  at 4 pm on the ABS-CBN Sports website (sports.abs-cbn.com) and ABS-CBN Sports Facebook and YouTube accounts. Catch also the delayed telecast on cable sports channel LIGA at 7 pm, with a replay on July 26 at 4:30 pm.