Starting next year, the important matches in the UAAP will be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, according to officials of the National University, the 75th season host.

NU athletic director Junel Baculi and SM MOA officials said aside from the opening games, the championship matches will also be staged at the P3.5 billion stadium which can house a maximum of 20,000 fans.

Baculi, who will be next year’s UAAP secretary-general, said that it’s also likely that one or all of the scheduled Ateneo-La Salle matches will be held at the SM MOA set to be completed in May next year.

But Baculi said that they’re not closing their door on the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, which has hosted UAAP games for decades.

“One thing definite is that the opening of the UAAP season will be at the MOA Arena but we’ll try to fix the schedule,” Baculi said during yesterday’s press conference at the SMX Convention Center. “But we’re not abandoning the Araneta Coliseum per se, it’s just we want to highlight MOA because we’re in partnership with them.”

NU is owned by mall magnate Henry Sy who is also considered the richest Filipino.

Erl Orenza, MOA AVP for events, said that the facility is already 85-percent complete and it features amenities and innovations similar to sports arenas in the United States.

“This partnership comes at a better time as the UAAP celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2012 and we want to showcase the MOA Arena as a one of a kind facility,” said Orenza. —Jonas Terrado