Major Philippine sports leagues such as the PBA, NCAA, and UAAP have postponed their scheduled games on November 9 and 11 due to the anticipated severe thunderstorms that Super Typhoon Uwan is expected to bring to the country.
No Sunday Funday for Fans at Montalban, Rizal
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) announced that its Season 50 Philippine Cup double-header, initially set for November 9 at the Ynares Center II in Montalban, will be postponed due to the incoming typhoon.
The highly anticipated matches were supposed to feature TNT versus Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra against Titan Ultra.
“In light of the incoming Super Typhoon Uwan, and with the safety of our fans, players, officials, and staff as our top priority, the PBA has decided to postpone its Sunday, November 9 games,” the league stated in an official announcement on Saturday.
The PBA assured fans that the games will be rescheduled at a later date, with new details to be announced through its official platforms.
Before the postponement, TNT Tropang 5G had been preparing to defend their four-game winning streak against the Hotshots, who were aiming to recover from a narrow loss to San Miguel Beer. Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and Titan Ultra were both hoping to continue their recent momentum, following impressive wins against NLEX and Blackwater, respectively.
At this stage of the tournament, TNT shares the top spot with Rain or Shine at 5–1, while Ginebra sits at 2–3 in eighth place. Titan Ultra, the league’s newest team, currently holds a 2–4 record.
Top Tier Collegiate Sporting Events Take a Pause
Following the PBA’s lead, both the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) opted to suspend their Sunday games as heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to hit Metro Manila.
The UAAP was set for a rivalry-filled schedule in Season 88 men’s basketball, with Ateneo facing La Salle after the earlier game between University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, the NCAA’s Season 101 seniors basketball tournament was supposed to take place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, headlined by matchups between Arellano University and University of Perpetual Help, and De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) against Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC). Both leagues confirmed that these games will be rescheduled to a later date.
In a separate memorandum issued on November 8, the NCAA further clarified that all Season 101 events scheduled for Sunday, which include both seniors’ and juniors’ basketball as well as chess competitions, have also been cancelled as a precautionary measure.
The defending champion Mapua University was supposed to face Arellano University at 12:00 PM, while last season’s runner-up De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde was set to go up against Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2:30 PM.
The league explained, “In view of the forecasted unfavorable weather conditions, please be informed that the NCAA Basketball Games/Chess Tournament scheduled for tomorrow, November 9, is hereby cancelled.”
“This decision has been made to prioritize the safety and well-being of our student-athletes, officials, and spectators. A new schedule for the affected game will be announced once conditions permit and coordination with the NCAA Management Committee has been finalized.”
Even the scheduled basketball games and volleyball games on November 11 have been suspended as well due to the cancellation of classes from November 10 to 11.
The NCAA made an announcement that their games on Tuesday at the MOA Arena will be played on rescheduled. Fans would’ve seen the matchup between Lyceum of the Philippines and battle #1 team in Group A, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. While in the 2nd game, another top-tier Group B clash would’ve happened as the San Beda University takes on the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán.
For the UAAP, school volleyball games on Tuesday will be played on a later date.
Safety for All as the Typhoon Brings Chaos
Heavy rain, wind, flashflood and landslides are expected to be felt in the entire country of the Philippines because of Typhoon Uwan, or with its international name, Fung-Wong.
That being said, top basketball leagues have unanimously placed everyone’s safety first. All three organizations, PBA, UAAP, and NCAA, have emphasized that new game schedules will be announced once the weather situation stabilizes and logistics allow competition to safely resume.
Signal #1 and #2 have been given to certain provinces and places in the country, with reports of a possible Signal #4 and #5 to be reported once the typhoon has made landfall on land.
The Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) has also raised the “Red Alert,” which is the highest operational alert.
