WITH the 65th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) halfway through, fans of the country’s top collegiate league have yet to see the broadcast coverage of the non-basketball events on Studio 23.
Studio 23, operated by television giant ABS-CBN, promised fans of the league to cover to the league’s other sporting events after acquiring the rights to broadcast the 63rd season of the UAAP in 2000.
That year, with the University of Santo Tomas as host, Studio 23 showed highlights of the men’s and the women’s volleyball tournaments during halftime of the seniors basketball tournament.
This effort was not sustained, however, with the conclusion of the men’s basketball tournament. With the De La Salle Green Archers getting their second straight championship courtesy of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, also came the end of Studio 23’s coverage of the league.
Two years have passed and Studio 23’s promised coverage of the other sporting events have yet to be fulfilled.
UAAP president Sonny Paguia of host school National University told the Varsitarian that the men’s basketball tournament is given full coverage because it is the flagship event of the league.
“We generate money from basketball. That is where we get the money to support the league’s other sporting events,” said Paguia in a phone interview.
But Paguia said Studio 23 is planning to cover the opening rites of the men’s and the women’s football tournament.
For UST women’s volleyball head coach Augusto Santamaria, the non-coverage of the non-basketball events is the fault of the UAAP itself.
“Sa tingin ko, the UAAP should put pressure on the television outfit that has the broadcasting rights. Kung gusto talaga ng UAAP na mabigyan ng coverage iyong ibang sports, dapat sabihin nila sa Studio 23 na kung hindi nila bibigyan ng coverage iyong ibang sports, lilipat sila ng television station,” said Santamaria.
“Unfair naman ang UAAP kung ganoon. Alisin na lang nila iyong ibang sports, basketball na lang ang itira nila,” Santamaria added.
Santamaria pointed out that it is quite ironic when, during the awarding of the UAAP general championship at the end of every season, basketball players receive the trophy when in fact, they were never really a factor.
“Masyado nilang ini-emphasize na basketball ang kumikita sa UAAP. Without basketball, hindi daw kikita ang UAAP,” said the multi-titled coach.
Publicity game
Likewise, former UST rector and Manila Bulletin columnist Fr. Rolando Dela Rosa, O.P. said in a column last month that the biased coverage arises from the mistaken notion that the UAAP is purely basketball. “The UAAP is a league established to promote amateur sports,” he explained. The UAAP champion trophy annually goes to the school that has achieved the most number of victories in various sports. This title testifies to the school’s wholistic sports development program that enables it to produce top-caliber Filipino athletes.”
Fr. Dela Rosa wrote the column in reaction to a column by Teodoro Benigno that billed the Ateneo-De La Salle championship game as the “battle of the titans.”
In his column, De la Rosa said the belief that Ateneo and De La Salle University are sports titans is nothing but a myth. Both schools have never won a UAAP general championship, as compared with UST and FEU with 29 and 16, respectively.
UST leads the league with a total of 29 general championships.
“La Salle and Ateneo are rivals, not in basketball or academics, but in the attention of their elitist supporters, many of whom are graduates or students,” said Fr. De La Rosa.
Student voice
It is already a common prognosis that the UAAP gives support to basketball because it is indeed a money-making enterprise.
“It’s bad because they should consider other sports na kasali sa UAAP. Men’s basketball is too commercialized na. Parang ang dating tuloy, UAAP only has basketball and no other sport… they hype it too much—for commercial profit na kasi,” said UST Commerce student Teddy Quizado.
Valerie Alpapara, a Public Adminstration student from UP, agrees: “Matagal ko na nga iyang reklamo. I know some people from our taekwondo team at kitang-kita iyong lack of support for them. Basketball isn’t the only sport worth watching.”
For Christine Garcia, a Communications student from Ateneo, the whole matter is all about giving the people what they want.
“If that’s (basketball) what people want to watch, that’s what they’ll show. Another thing, no one really pushes for it. If the athletes decide to complain, maybe they (Studio 23) should give it a thought. They play it up a little too much, but at the same time, they’re just responding to the viewers,” said Garcia.
Human Biology student and De La Salle pep squad member Peimon Badiee gives a much closer assessment.
“Basketball is what everyone watches. They should also cover or advertise the others (sporting events) but no one is going to watch them. When we go to non-basketball games to perform, the only ones watching besides us are the families of the players.”
As for the whole Ateneo-De La Salle story, Badiee said: “I think they have no choice. A lot of people would look forward to an Ateneo-De La Salle game. Big sponsors like Globe and Smart would pay for them kasi they know it’s gonna be full wherever the game is. Put it in Baguio and people are gonna flock Baguio.”
Santamaria’s assessment of what’s happening to the UAAP should definitely be an eye-opener for everyone who’s involved in the league.
“Para sa akin, basketball-crazed country nga tayo, pero sa nakikita ko, the people running the show are crazy,” Santamaria said. Dexter R. Matilla with reports from Ma. Pacita C. Joson and Elka Krystle R. Requinta
