ALL roads lead to España, as University of Santo Tomas raises the curtains on UAAP Season 88 with a grand opening spectacle and clash of titans in the offing.
The University of the Philippines begins its title defense against the home team Growling Tigers on Sep. 21.
The Fighting Maroons will lean on its title-winning 'Maroon 5' core of Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Janjan Felicilda, Terrence Fortea, and Reyland Torres, while the black-and-gold will look to cash in on the last go-rounds as well of Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabanero.
It is expected that the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav) will share hosting duties of the earlygoings of the basketball tournaments alongside the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo.
Bringing the games to UST and Ateneo was part of the league's adjustments in light of the Philippines' hosting of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship from Sep. 12 to 28.
Black-and-gold standard
A day before the opening game, the season - themed ’Strength in Motion, Hope in Action' - unfurls also inside the Royal, Pontifical, and Catholic University’s Manila campus.
READ: UST rockstar alum gives voice to UAAP Season 88 theme. Find out who
A Eucharistic mass is scheduled at 2 p.m. before the opening rites in the evening at the school’s grandstand.
This year’s opening festivities will see all eight schools converge in España, showcasing the 414-year-old institution’s signature traditions such as its annual ‘Paskuhan’ and ‘Welcome Walk.’
Rev. Fr. Rodel S. Cansancio, O.P., head of the league's Board of Managing Directors, said UST is set to welcome roughly 25,000 to 30,000 people across all member-schools. To be exact, It will open its doors to 1,000 people per member-school, including 200 officials each.
“We hope to give the UAAP community a taste of Thomasian pride and spirit with a bigger, bolder, and more spectacular year,” Cansancio said.
“As one UAAP community, we will come together to express our gratitude and praise to God for guidance, as we start a new season.”
Apart from the traditional parade of student-athletes, oath of sportsmanship, and cauldron lighting, the eight-peat UAAP general champions will also stage a series of live performances, drone display, wall projection mapping, and fireworks show, as well as a special surprise number.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
