Basketball: UAAP opens 2008-2009 season with new rules

June 25, 2008 The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) announced the opening of the 2008-2009 season with innovations and new rules to spice up the premiere collegiate tournament in the country.

The sport sepak takraw will be introduced as a demonstration game in this season and in the popular basketball matches among the ten member universities, a 16-man team will be implemented and the season opens with an early meet-up between rival basketball teams of De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University.

Hector Callanta, secretary and treasurer of the athletic association said that there will be new rules, a definite new feel for this year's games.

Every school year, the UAAP opens its competition among its member academic institutions to accredited sports such as swimming, volleyball, archery, and others.

The game of basketball, especially between the UAAP's two top teams, La Salle and Ateneo are the much awaited event which will see action on July 6.

Defending champion La Salle, will square-off with arch nemesis Ateneo and a beefed up line-up of the Far Eastern University.

The season formally opens with a show and ceremony to be led by this year's host, the National University on July 5 at the Araneta Coliseum with an opening basketball match between Adamson University and Far Eastern University.