A view of the athletics stadium inside the the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac on November 21, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA -- In a first, the UAAP will hold the athletics and swimming competitions of UAAP Season 87 at the New Clark City Sports Hub in Tarlac.
"It's the best venue in the Philippines, and we had the SEA [Southeast Asian] Games there before," Em Fernandez of subhost Ateneo de Manila University told ABS-CBN News on Friday.
The UAAP swimming competition was previously held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, while track and field events took place at the PhilSports complex in Pasig.
FROM SEASON 86: UP regains women's swimming crown
FROM SEASON 86: Ateneo secures 8th straight title in men's swimming
In another first, all UAAP athletes will be hosted by the league at the Athletes' Village in the Sports Hub.
The swimming tournament runs from November 17-20, while the athletics events will take place on November 17-21.
"Hopefully, Pepito will not ruin our show this coming weekend and next week," said Fernandez.
As it stands, Tarlac is not under a wind signal even as typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) has intensified.
A visit to the Aquatics Stadium at the New Clark City in Capas Tarlac on October 16, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileREAD: More areas under cyclone signals as 'Pepito' intensifies anew
"Perfect match ata 'yung athletics and swimming," UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag told ABS-CBN News in a separate interview. "Based on the opinion [of the subhosts], ang ganda raw ng facilities dito sa Clark complex. So it's a milestone, I believe."
Saguisag is hopeful that hosting the swimming and athletics events in the high-profile venue will bring more eyes to these sports.
"If you watch the Olympics, athletics and swimming are the highlights, sila ang bida talaga. So maybe, it's time for the UAAP to really put more focus on these two events or tournaments," he said.
Ahead of this weekend's athletics and swimming competitions, the UAAP signed on Friday a partnership with health and wellness app mWell, which allows the league's student-athletes to flaunt their school colors through unique wearables while also tracking their health status.
"The UAAP is one with mWell in promoting wellness and leading healthier lives in order to become a more formidable community committed to greatness," said Saguisag during the contract signing in Pasig City.