UST will retain scholarships for all its student-athletes during the new academic year despite the cancellation of UAAP Season 83, its athletics director said.

The Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) earlier announced that scholarships granted during the second semester of academic year (AY) 2019-2020 would be valid until the first term of 2020-2021, which ended in December.

“It’s true that UST will retain the scholarships of our student-athletes for the 2nd term of AY 2020-2021,” Fr. Rodel Cansancio, the IPEA director, told the Varsitarian.

“In this time of pandemic and uncertainties, no student should be left behind.”

The UAAP board in December announced it would not hold its 83rd season citing the health and safety of student-athletes as Covid-19 cases in the country continued to balloon.

Rodrigo Sambuang, UST’s athletics moderator, told the Varsitarian that 579 collegiate and 330 high-school athletes would benefit from the scholarship extension.

“All scholarships given last [term] will be offered the same this [term],” he said.

Sambuang also disclosed that UST would do away with the “team A, team B” system, and reserves for each sport would be placed on training pools instead.

Those assigned to training pools would remain scholars of the University, he affirmed.

According to UST Tracksters head coach Manny Calipes, the scholarship extensions inspired student-athletes under his wing to train harder even without competitions in sight.

“Nag-New Year conference ‘yung team to express their gratitude sa school. We are all in high spirits and they are already sending training videos this week without being told,” he told the Varsitarian.

UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag in December said a September 2021 start of Season 84 was being eyed should the country’s pandemic situation improve. Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr. with reports from John Ezekiel J. Hirro

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