NAKATAKDANG magdeklara ng General Champion para sa Season 82 ang University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) ngunit hindi sila pipili ng Athlete of the Year.
Sa naganap na lingguhang sesyon ng Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum nitong Martes, sinabi nina UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag at Season 82 president Em Fernandez na mahigit sa "two-thirds" ng mga events sa kalendaryo ng liga kapwa sa High School at College divisions ay natapos na kaya puwede ng magdeklara ng General Champion.
“You have to remember that in the High School Division, sixteen of the eighteen championships were awarded. In the Collegiate Division, twenty-one championship out of the thirty-one were given just to give you a perspective," pahayag ni Fernandez sa lingguhang forum na itinataguyod ng SMART at inihahatid ng San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant at ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Ang mga kinanselang events sa High School dahil sa coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ay athletics at lawn tennis habang ang mga naapektuhang events sa Collegiate level ay ang volleyball, football, baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis at 3×3 basketball.
Empleyadong lasing, patay matapos sapakin ng ginising na katrabaho
Nakatakdang itanghal bilang double champions sa gaganaping “virtual closing ceremony" ng liga sa susunod na buwan ang University of Santo Tomas ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, walang hihirangin na Athlete of the Year dahil hindi naman lahat ng mga atleta ay nakapaglaro.
“Compared to the General Championship na 16 of the 18 (in high school) and 21 of the 31 (in college) were played, that’s more than two-thirds. But as to Athlete of the Year, iba yung effect. Yung mga overall championship, lahat ng school naka-participate,” ayon kay Atty. Saguisag.
“To award the Athlete of the Year, may mga athletes na hindi nakapag-compete or hindi man lang nakatungtong fully. That is the wisdom why they decided to have an overall champion but not an Athlete of the Year.” MARIVIC AWITAN
