The UAAP will be implementing a major change in its officiating for the upcoming Season 82 volleyball tournament with the introduction of the video challenge system, league officials announced during the league's press conference for its second semester sports at the Mall of Asia Arena Tuesday afternoon.
The elaborate system, which was introduced in the Philippine Superliga in 2015 and utilized in the 30th Southeast Asian [SEA] Games, will be introduced for the first time this Saturday, the opening day of the tournament at the same venue.
It will be finally adopted by the collegiate league after years of clamor from fans. The league says that it will most likely adhere to international volleyball standards of two successful challenges per set, with the aid of 16 cameras and a dedicated official.
"[The Philippine volleyball scene] was inspired by the SEA Games. The technical aspect of it was also insure, and because we wanted to uplift the level of competition this year, we added the challenge system," UAAP Control Committee President Noreen Go told ESPN5.com.
Go added that the system used by the Philippine Superliga will be the one used for the tournament. Official guidelines regarding the use of the system will be released to coaches and journalists alike later in the week.
Another glaring change with this year's tournament will be the rescheduling of the men's and women's contests.
Instead of the customary schedule of men's games in the morning and the women's in the afternoon, an alternating format will be used. This means the men will kick off things at 8 a.m., followed by the women at 10, while the marquee match-ups of the day will start with the men at 2 p.m. and the women at 4.
'The SEA Games was an eye-opener [to us], that is why we wanted to highlight the men's and women's tournaments," explained UAAP President Em Fernandez of Ateneo.
"All systems go"
The ongoing uncertainty brought by the development of the novel coronavirus scare has also cast a cloud of doubt over the UAAP, as it waits for further development in pushing through with the games this February 15.
However, according to league Executive Director Rebo Saguisag, the status quo is that they will push through with the opening unless an order of cancellation will be handed down by the Pasay City government or the Department of Health.
The NCAA had earlier cancelled its junior's sporting events in accordance with a Department of Education order urging to postpone activity.
The UAAP, however, will still continue to push through with the planned activities this week, as evidenced by the fencing tournament opener Tuesday at the Paco Arena and the junior's basketball stepladder game on Wednesday in San Juan.
"A better way to put it is that we have not come out with a decision postponing or canceling it," Saguisag told reporters. "We don't know what will come out tomorrow or the next couple of hours, since it may be contained, or may spread even further."
Saguisag also assured that the UAAP and the venue, the Mall of Asia Arena have taken extra steps in ensuring the players' and the spectator's safety.
"We have to educate the public in changing fan behavior also. Frequent handwashing, beso-beso. We have those in place. But the question is, are these [measures] enough?" mentioned the lawyer.
"The last thing we need is a knee-jerk reaction to panic. We want to have a well-informed decision with regard to this."