The coliseum is packed, the crowd is wild, the drums are banging and the action on the court is hot. Once again, it’s UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) basketball season.
In the next four months, students and fans from eight universities will wear their school colors, shout themselves hoarse for two hours, and enjoy the tournament.
If you’re new to the scene, get to know some of the fans you will see either at the venue or online.
Disclaimer: This is not to disrespect or malign fans who may belong to the categories below. This is just based on my observation.
The “I-am-here-for-my PE/NSTP-grade”—These are students who come in their PE uniforms, some of them unfamiliar with the names of the players or even the rules of the game. You will hear them cheer, even if the shot is not counted. They’re usually grouped at the upper box, with their tickets kept as proof of attendance.
The Big Game Goer—They’re avid fans of their school team but would go only to the Final Four or the Finals. You can see them in various university market groups on Facebook, scouring the site for tickets and willing to pay above face value.
The Scalper—They have access to tickets and sell them at exorbitant prices. When supply is low and demand is high, the desperate buy tickets from them. But scalping is unfair and illegal, and these should be reported to the authorities.
The Completionist—They are present at almost every game day. They schedule their classes/vacation leaves around the games. They are willing to camp out for tickets even if it takes sleeping outside the venue.
The Diehard—These are completionists with a bit more edge to them. They do everything that the completionists do, and more. They are decked from head to foot with merchandise or freebies at the venue. Some even wear facepaint. You can see them in tears if their team loses, or happily strolling around the nearby malls if their team wins. When they get home, some even watch the replay.
The “Notice Me, Senpai”—They are sometimes not affiliated with the school they are cheering for. Most of the time, they cheer for only one player. Some are fans of another sport but watch the basketball game because their favorite player from a different sport is being linked to a player from the varsity basketball team. They are also seen online messaging the particular player to notice them on Twitter.
The Alumnus Tito/Alumna Tita—They graduated from college ages ago but still keep the passion burning. The Alumnus Tito/Alumna Tita have connections to tickets and they usually sit very close to the action. Some of them may not be physically capable of cheering their hearts and lungs out the whole game, as they sometimes need to take maintenance medication in very tight games. They sip coffee at the high-end shops around the venue, while many of them leave early to avoid traffic.
The “Pagpag”—You wonder how they get their tickets. Like the “Notice me, senpai,” the “Pagpag” are not necessarily affiliated with the school and they usually root for only one player. They’re usually at the patron section with tarpaulins and banners bearing their favorite player’s name, jersey number and picture.
The Statistician/Analyst—Numbers keep this audience type going. They go through the stat sheet after every game and pore over things that went right and wrong for their team. Efficiency is the name of the game for these fans, and they have a keen eye for details in the game. You will see these people online after the games offering their take and advice (sometimes solicited).
The Casual Fan—Most of UAAP fans belong to this category. They will watch the games when schedules and ticket availability permit. If the venue is far or they have prior commitments, they will watch their favorite teams on TV or online, even if this means watching the replay.
What unites these UAAP fans is passion for the game and their school.
The important thing about watching the games is the joy and excitement that basketball brings.
To all UAAP fans, enjoy the season! —CONTRIBUTED