UST athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio during a press conference at the University of the Santo Tomas campus, August 27, 2025. Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern
MANILA — Adding more Olympic sports into the UAAP program is a step towards strengthening national sports development, a league official said on Wednesday.
However, that plan may encounter financial and institutional hurdles.
University of Santo Tomas (UST) athletics director and UAAP Board of Managing Directors (BMD) President Fr. Rodel Cansancio said during the UAAP Season 88 Press Conference that the inclusion of Olympic-aligned sports is part of the league's plan to enrich sports development in the Philippines.
READ: What to expect in the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremony
"Well, to introduce Olympic-aligned sports sa UAAP is a step in the right direction," Cansancio told reporters on Wednesday, Aug. 27. "Personally, I believe na that's really how we proceed to be successful in our national sports program."
The UAAP's sports program does not include events wherein the Philippines recently won Olympic medals: gymnastics, weightlifting, and boxing.
While open to the idea, Cansancio also raised concerns over the high costs and limited resources that could stand in the way of the plan's full implementation.
"Pero syempre, just like what I've explained a while ago, marami rin i-consider on the part of the school, like yung financial implication," he said. "So hindi ganun kadali na mag-put up ng isang team."
For Cansancio, the possibility of expanding Olympics-aligned sports in the premier collegiate league is a welcome move that would open more opportunities for budding student-athletes.
"Palagi ko ngang sinasabi na UAAP exists to serve the national sports development program of our country," he said.
In a courtesy call last month, the UAAP and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) led by Chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio reinforced their commitment in supporting the country's goals to boost national sports.
READ: UAAP looks to strengthen ties with PSC, eyes adding more Olympic sports
Currently, the UAAP showcases several Olympic sports, including 5x5 and 3x3 basketball, indoor and beach volleyball, athletics, swimming, badminton, lawn tennis, table tennis, baseball, softball, fencing, taekwondo, and judo.
The UAAP also revealed that the Season 88 calendar will see the addition of boys' tennis and the return of boys' baseball as measures to improve sports development.
"I think it's really more of yung alignment, because we have programs sa college. Sometimes… kailangan mo ng grassroots program," Cansancio said.
"So basically, it's more of yung developmental program na from your high school program, you'll just move up to your college program," he added.
UAAP is set to welcome Season 88 with an opening ceremony inspired by UST's iconic Paskuhan festivities, where 25,000 to 30,000 guests are expected to attend.