By Emil C. Noguera (Manila Times)

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and television network ABS-CBN renewed their partnership with a fresh five-year contract starting next year. Gabby Lopez, chairman of the giant network, and Anton Montinola, the league’s president, formally signed the contract, which will run starting Season 73 in 2010 until Season 77 in 2015.

ABS-CBN is bringing the games to the television set of viewers in high definition (HD)—a digital television broadcasting with higher resolution than the standard television system.

ABS-CBN Vice President for sports Peter Musngi promised to have a wide-range of coverage not only for basketball but also in other UAAP sports events such as volleyball, beach volleyball and football, among others.

Musngi added that beginning next year, the finals of the men’s basketball will be televised on ABS-CBN’s Very High Frequency (VHF) Channel 2 while the elimination and Final Four games will still be shown on Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Studio 23.