The 10th NAASCU games soon to get underway
Who says that San Sebastian College is only lording it over one league? In the NCAA, the Stags are the defending champions and as of this writing are still undefeated. Their brother school -- San Sebastian College-Cavite is the two-time defending champion of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU). The Baycats, as their athletic teams are known by will be gunning for a third straight title when the league opens this July 30. The opening will be held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum then games will simultaneously be held there and at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Baycats (20-2 last year) are coached by a former Stag great Edgar Macaraya (who broke Allan Caidic’s collegiate three-point record in a single game with 16 triples to the Triggerman’s 15). Despite the loss of five mainstays in MVPs (2008) Kris Lucernas and (2009) Jun Gracillas. They also lost RJ Escobal, Lyle Antipuesto, and Jeri Basa, the Baycats are still favored to defend their title for a third straight year.
In last year’s final, the Baycats swept the best-of-three finals against five-time champion University of Manila (71-69 in Game 1 and a 98-91 overtime victory in Game 2).
The Baycats aren’t expecting a stroll in the park. It’s going to be a wide-open race with up to seven teams expected to vie for the crown. During SSCR-Cavite’s run to their first NAASCU title, the Baycats toppled defending champions STI Olympians in 2008. The Olympians return this year with a line-up that’s good for a nine man rotation that will be led by Jerald Bautista and 6’6” Cameroonian Henry Betayene who is only 20 years old.
The UM Hawks return with last year’s Rookie of the Year Jeff Viernes and the core of the MLQU team that head coach Jojo Castillo brought over.
Other teams expected to compete include AMACU Titans, CEU Scorpions, Informatics Icons, and Our Lady of Fatima Phoenix.
Said NAASCU president Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem of St. Clare College, “We expect another exciting basketball season with every team ready to grab the title from San Sebastian.”
Only four teams – UM, SSC-Cavite, STI, and AMA Computer University have won a NAASCU title in the 10-team field. The other member schools include Centro Escolar University, New Era University, Informatics, Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Pasay, Our Lady of Fatima University 6’6” Indonesian, and Lyceum of Subic Bay.
NAASCU chairman Atty. Ernesto de los Santos of UM said that they are expecting more than 12,000 students from different member-schools to attend the opening ceremonies where Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping will be the guest of honor and Misamis Oriental Gov. and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas official Oscar Moreno will be the keynote speaker.
The NAASCU competition will include basketball, volleyball, billiards, track and field, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, handball and duathlon. There will also be a cheer dance competition among the participating schools, colleges and universities.
There will also be competitions in the womens and juniors divisions although the latter has a twist. College players may compete in the juniors division as long as they meet the age requirement.
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