Leeway Being Planned for UAAP Season 82 Seniors to Return for Season 83

When the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) first indefinitely postponed what' was left of the second-semester events for Season 82, many were still hoping that Season 82 would still continue especially for those who were rooting for the Ateneo Lady Eagles to go for a second-straight championship in the women's volleyball tournament. Unfortunately, that won't be happening either as the league has long scrapped the remaining events of Season 82 which put an abrupt end to the collegiate career of those would have played their final season.

And while the league has said that it will allow fifth-year players of Season 82 to return for Season 83 as long as those players abide by the rules on eligibility set by the league, not all of the fifth-year players when Season 82 got canceled would be able to comply with the rules especially with regards to the age limit. Fortunately, flexibility will be given to the graduating seniors of Season 82 if and when Season 83 happens.

Under the existing rules, student-athletes are only allowed of five-year reliability in the UAAP events and as long as they are under the age of 25 years old. The good news is: the league's Board of Managing Directors is set to tackle their plan to adjust the rules concerning eligibility and age limitation for seniors whose final year has been cut short or worse, never got to start due to the pandemic. Then, the said plan will be sent to the league's Board of Trustees for approval.

While waiting for the approval, the league also clarified that if and when the plan is a go, the UAAP also clarified that seniors will be eligible to play for Season 83 as long as they will be enrolled this coming school and that,  only those seniors who play UAAP events that got scrapped due to the pandemic are the only ones that are going to be allowed to return for one final run. Also, UAAP President Emmanuel Fernandez also clarified that if certain seniors who are now beyond the set age-limit but weren't part of their team's line-up for Season 82, they won't be allowed to suit up for Season 83 either.

The UAAP still has other things to plan with regards to Season 83 and that includes when Season 83 will open. Some suggest that UAAP should re-open during the first quarter of 2021 while some are looking at a late 2020 return. But the important thing right now is this: the UAAP is looking to provide a leeway for Season 82 seniors to complete their UAAP careers in their own terms as long as they do it by the rules. Flexible and to-be-approved rules. 

Photo is from Rappler