UAAP nears return after completion of athlete vaccination drive

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

After almost two years, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) might return to action by mid-February next year.

Good news stormed the Philippine collegiate sports community after the UAAP reported that all of the participating student-athletes for volleyball and basketball are now fully vaccinated.

“As for our basketball and volleyball, all of our players are 100% fully vaccinated. They’re ready to come back. We’re just waiting for the permission for them to return to training,” said UAAP Season 84 president Nonong Calanog of La Salle.

The UAAP student-athlete COVID-19 vaccination drive at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) facility in Diliman, Quezon City saw the remaining athletes for volleyball and basketball receive their full doses.

After the vaccination drive, the UAAP organizing body is now gearing up for the potential training return of the athletes eyed on November 1.

However, the request is still for approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and also depending on the quarantine level.

“It should be easy to put it together, but the bottom line is we must vaccinate the student-athletes, and the rest of the education stakeholders. That’s what is non-negotiable. But if everyone is vaccinated, it will be easy to adjust the guidelines,” said CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III.