MANILA — The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will bring back girls’ basketball after a five-year hiatus.

The inaugural season in 2020 was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, with Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) sharing the Season 82 title after Game 3 of the finals was canceled.

This year, the competition will feature UST, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle-Zobel, and National University-Nazareth School (NUNS). The tournament will start on January 23 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, with NUNS facing Ateneo at 4 p.m.

NUNS head coach Camilla Escoto shared her excitement for the event’s return.

“I’m very happy and excited about it because I believe we just need to start somewhere, and it will start growing,” Escoto said. “That’s women’s basketball. Just give a platform and they will perform and start becoming more. Although there are only four teams this season, it’s a good start. We just really need to start.”

Escoto guided NUNS to victories in last year’s National Basketball Training Center’s girls’ division and the UAAP girls’ 3×3 tournament.

Junior Growling Tigresses head coach Arsenio Dysangco also highlighted the significance of a high school division in the UAAP for a smoother transition to the collegiate level.

“I am extremely delighted that after a five-year hiatus, our young girls finally have their own tournament to showcase their talents,” Dysangco said. “This tournament is also critical for the development of women’s basketball because starting them early gives them a better chance at reaching their fullest potential as basketball athletes.”

Dysangco added that his team’s main players, Grachelle Boteros and Barby Dajao from Bacolod, serve as the program’s pillars.

Several players from the previous season have gone on to excel in collegiate basketball, including inaugural MVP Cris Padilla and Kat Agojo (Adamson), Brigette Santos and Nicole Danganan (UST), and Katelyn Cancio (Ateneo). UST’s Rachel Lacayanga has joined the University of the East Lady Warriors.