The UAAP announced on Saturday, April 23 the return of women's volleyball tournament beginning May 5 after a two-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The development was bared in a joint press conference attended by UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag, Season 84 president Nonong Calanog of host De La Salle, and Commission on Higher Education chairman Popoy De Vera during halftime between University of the Philippines and De La Salle.
The venue and the schedule have yet to be released as of this writing as CHED already eased the bubble restriction for collegiate leagues given that Metro Manila remains under Alert Level 1 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
De Vera, however, will leave it up to the UAAP whether it will continue to play under a bubble setup or not.
Certain changes are expected within the next few weeks as the men's basketball tournament is nearing its Final Four contention.
Saguisag, for his part, said the UAAP Board will maintain a bubble format at least for the rest of the hoops contest.
"Tatapusin namin ito ng maayos and so far we have -- keeping our fingers crossed -- zero incidents of Covid infections," said Saguisag. "The UAAP has taken a higher standard when it comes to the health and safety not only the student-athletes but anyone else concerned."
Calanog added that a closed-circuit is being mulled by the league for the volleyball tourney but the final decision will come up by next week after another board meeting.
The remainder of Season 82 including centerpiece sport volleyball was cancelled due to the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) brought by the Covid-19 pandemic last April 2020.
The last time UAAP held volleyball games was on March 8, 2020 and only seven games apiece were played both in men's and women's. It was also the first time that the league was cancelled since World War II.