Expected to be present in the crucial meeting are government panel to set the parameters for the gradual return of sports events in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, composed of Philippine Sports Commission National Training Director Marc Velasco, Games and Amusement Board Chairman Baham Mitra, and DOH Health Promotion and Communication Service Head Rodley Carza.

Also, UAAP Season 83 President Nonong Calanog and CHED Executive Director Prospero De Vera III and Atty. Cindy Jaro was also present in the afternoon meeting.

The Growling Tigers has been in the hot water for the past couple of weeks since the team’s alleged Bicol bubble training starting mid-June.

Meanwhile, NU was caught in the middle of a controversy after clips of its women’s volleyball team training inside its Sampaloc and Laguna campuses circulated in social media.

UST Legal Counsel Atty. Melvin Verzosa and Atty. Elgin Perez who was present in the meeting discussed findings that the school was able to gather with regards to the Growling Tigers alleged training camp in Sorsogon, Bicol.

Furthermore, NU Athletic Director Otie Camangian shared the experiences of his stranded bulldog players that moved from the Manila campus to Laguna during the quarantine.

“A copy of the report from UST concerning its basketball team was submitted to the concerned government agencies. UST also reported that UAAP was likewise given a copy. NU answered queries on the incident regarding its volleyball teams and will likewise provide a report to the UAAP,” UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag said.

In the statement released by the UAAP Executive Director, the UAAP Board of Managing Director will convene on Thursday [September 3] to review reports presented by the universities and tackle other related cases before taking pertinent decisions about the universities’ sanctions.

While fans following the controversy await the verdict and with the pressure mounting from GAB in these cases, the athletic association might possibly make an unprecedented decision as soon as possible once given a mandate and clearance from its Board of Trustees.

The league acknowledges the presence of the universities involved during the meeting, as this was the first time that UST and NU appeared in previous meetings back on August 22 and 26 with the JAO group.

“The meeting was an important step towards the resolution of these issues that concern student-athletes of UAAP member-schools,” Saguisag expressed.