UCSAA set for 9th season

UCSAA

A brighter bolder and better Ninth Universities, Colleges and Schools Athletic Association (UCSAA) will open its doors this August 30 at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City with seven varsities battling for athletic supremacy in Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Chess and Table Tennis.  League officials and coaches bared their sentiments on the coming season at last Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel Manila.

Newly-appointed Executive Director Harlem Ruiz said that the UCSAA is currently in a stage of rebranding and strengthening its base with the addition of new schools.  Season host Saint Dominic Savio College will be joined by returnees First City Providential College and Don Bosco Technical College-Mandaluyong but newcomers AMA University, World Citi College-Aeronautical and Technological College, STI College and Saint Felicity College will not be far behind in crowding for honors.

Also attending the weekly forum were athletic directors and coaches Rhayzor Catris and Carlo Tomacas of WCC-Aerotech, Cicero Cruz of STI, John Andrew Duano of Saint Dominic and Mel Patco and EJay delos Santos of Saint Felicity.  All coaches have agreed that the Saint Dominic Savio Unicorns and AMA Titans are the early favorites to rule the main event of Seniors Basketball due to their experience in the PBA D-League but STI looms as a contender owing to the Olympians’ height advantage while First City hopes to translate its recent success in the Juniors Division into the Seniors Division.

The Titans has listed Andre Paras in its roster and the 6’4” center-forward and television personality is seen as the face of UCSAA.  However, there are a lot more unheralded names just waiting to show their skills and be discovered which is just what UCSAA is all about.

The newcomer schools just hope to compete, have fun and learn from the more established squads.  Miss Patco of Pateros-based Saint Felicity put it best by saying “We want our students to experience what students of other schools experience when they join leagues like this.”

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairperson William “Butch” Ramirez has been invited to grace the opening rites.  A surprise sports personality has also been tapped to provide inspiration to the student athletes.

Tournament format calls of a single round elimination with schools taking turns at hosting the games.  The top four will make it to the knockout semifinals and the winners will go on to the best of three championship series.