Alert Level 3 threatens UAAP, NCAA return

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will open their upcoming seasons with uncertainties after Metro Manila was placed under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 starting today until January 15, 2022.

After the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) already allowed the resume of collegiate bubble training under Alert Levels 1 and 2, the whole tertiary sporting scene just faced a huge blow as places under Alert Level 3 aren’t allowed to engage in contact sports.

The National Capital Region (NCR) was recently placed under Alert Level 3 as COVID-19 cases once again rose.

As of January 1, 2022, a total of 7,036 new cases in NCR for the last fourteen days was reported by the Department of Health tracker.

Metro Manila alone recorded 2,211 new cases in that span, one of their highest tallies so far.

With teams barred from their bubble training until January 15, the initial resume of collegiate sports after a year-and-a-half might also face a delay.

As of now, it is still undecided whether both the UAAP and the NCAA will resume their halted seasons this February or if they will be pushed back further to a later date due to the COVID-19 situation.