ABS-CBN Sports tweaks complementing UAAP coverage for Season 80

2/3 of the hosts of the UAAP tv special, "UAAP Greats"

With the 80th season of the UAAP set to commence on Saturday, ABS-CBN Sports will have a tv special to honor some of the sporting legends that once upon a time wore their respective school colors.

Called "UAAP Greats," this tv special will be shown at 1pm on S+A and its HD equivalent, immediately after the UAAP Season 80 opening ceremonies at 12nn.

Hosted by Alyssa Valdez, Robi Domingo, and Ganiel Krishnan, the three will introduce some of the greatest athletes and moments from the Philippines' premier collegiate league, taking us to all those iconic performances, title runs, and noted winning streaks. Among the segments on "UAAP Greats" includes the likes Ian Lariba, Danny Florencio, Lydia de Vega, and Robert Jaworski. This is in line with the current theme for Season 80, "Go For Great."

Ganiel making the transition from courtside reporter to host and now an insider.

ABS-CBN Sports also tweaked its format with its coverage, introducing UAAP Insiders that offers viewers and netizens exclusive bits and features on the eight UAAP teams and its student-athletes. Krishnan joins fellow courtside reporter alumnae Pauline Verzosa, Ira Pablo and Angelique Manto into that role, with Armand Hernandez being designated as the Digital Insider. They are also introducing a whole new batch of courtside reporters: Nicole Sumagui (Adamson), Martie Bautista (Ateneo), Eileen Shi (La Salle), Sydney Crespo (FEU), Miguel "Dyp" Dypiangco (NU), Migs Gomez (UE), Agatha Uvero (UP), and Tonie Moreno (UST).

UPFRONT at the UAAP

The tweaks also extend to its magazine show, UPFRONT at the UAAP. Janeena Chan returns as one of the hosts, joined by three newcomers in Manto, Martin Javier, and Turs Daza, all three of which were finalists of the latest MYX VJ Search. The quartet will present in-depth and fun features on the lives of the athletes on and off the playing courts. As always, UPFRONT at the UAAP will be shown just before the start of the each UAAP games every weekday.

UAAP Season 80 will kick off officially on Saturday, September 9, starting at 12nn at the Mall of Asia Arena. Men's basketball kicks sporting action into high gear with National University going up against the University of the East at 2pm, followed by last season's losing finalists Ateneo de Manila against Adamson at 4pm. Sunday action will feature the University of Santo Tomas against the University of the Philippines at 2pm, while the highly anticipated matchup between defending champions La Salle and Far Eastern University.

For the latest updates on the UAAP on ABS-CBN Sports, one can check out www.uaap80.com, while a special edition UAAP Magazine will be released during the season.