THERE is a glimmer of hope for collegiate sports to resume in this part of the country.
The first step was already undertaken by members of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League.
Just recently, athletic directors from the 10 member colleges and universities met at the University of Baguio as it looks forward to the 34th season with Benguet State University as host.
But University of the Cordilleras athletic director Danilo Cong-o said the restart of the games is tentatively set for October although at a minimal scale.
The minimal event will surely include basketball and volleyball.
The BBEAL will also conclude the unfinished 33rd season which the Cordillera Career Development College hosted and was canceled when the city was declared under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic starting in March 2020.
Other league members are Saint Louis University, Baguio Central University, University of the Philippines – Baguio, Pines City College, Philippine Military Academy, and Baguio College of Technology.
The league was formed in 1996 after the Baguio-Benguet College Athletic Association was disbanded.
It was an all-Baguio school meet, then called the Baguio Educational Athletic League with UC (then Baguio Colleges Foundation), UB, SLU, UP-B, PCC, BCU, PMA, and Easter College.
And in 2002, Benguet schools rejoined, thus the current name of BBEAL.
CCDC last hosted the event in 2019 which was truncated when the country was declared under lockdown due to the pandemic.
The league now hopes to restart the game with CCDC as host and to be followed by neighbor BSU.
CCDC, however, has canceled its programs since the March 2020 lockdowns.
The league also needs to reorganize as it needs a new treasurer. The last one was from PCC and has since resigned from his post due to the pandemic.
