Cancellation of UAAP Season 82: It Hurt All Teams

When the Ateneo Lady Eagles beat the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in Game 3 of last year's University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Finals in the women's volleyball, one of the first questions that had everyone scratching their heads is this: Will Kat Tolentino return for Season 82?

Back then, there were rumors that Kat Tolentino was leaning towards forgoing her final year of eligibility in the year and that was almost the case until Tolentino took a decisive U-turn and decided to don the blue and white jersey for one final flight with the Lady Eagles. Unfortunately, the Lady Eagles, along with the rest of the league, were grounded as the UAAP decided to cancel the remainder of Season 82 of the second semester due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic thus putting a sad and abrupt ending to what could have been a final chance at a championship for Tolentino and other graduating players in the UAAP.

But this one will sting Kat Tolentino the most considering the things that she went through on top of surviving three injuries throughout her collegiate career. And by extension, the Lady Eagles themselves. The cancellation just ended their hopes of flying for another championship under Coach Oliver Almadro. And while Kat Tolentino said that she's sad that her final flight in the UAAP ended just like that, she was sure that she isn't the only student-athlete in the UAAP who feels the same way. And she's right.

For fellow Ateneo Lady Eagle and UAAP rookie Faith Nisperos, she is already looking for a better Season 83 next year. Meanwhile, Dani Ravena, the youngest of the famous Ravena siblings, tweeted that the day the cancellation was announced was indeed a sad day not just for volleyball players but for volleyball fans in general. But perhaps, nobody could be hurt by this unfortunate turn of events other than those who are supposed to play in their final season like Tolentino. 

One of those seniors who will feel the sting of seeing their UAAP swan song ending abruptly is Risa Sato of the National University Lady Bulldogs who missed Season 82 due to academic issues.  

As much as this cancellation of Season 82 hurt all, teams in the UAAP not just in volleyball but in other sports as well, we can only hope that Season 83 will be indeed a better one and that yes, there will, be a Season 83. 

Photo is from Rappler