EAC ready to test St. Francis in UCAA

All eyes will be on defending champion St. Francis of Assisi, but expect other teams to rise to the challenge as the third season of the Universities and Colleges Athletics Association (UCAA) basketball tournament fires off Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Doves, champions for the past two seasons, remain as the team to beat in the eight-member school meet although the rest of the field, including host Emilio Aguinaldo College, are expected to crowd them out for the title.

Boasting a solid sports program, backed by a newly-built, state-of-the-art, seven-storey sports facilities, EAC looms as the biggest threat to St. Francis‚ bid for a third consecutive championship.

"The team failed to figure prominently during the past two years, but we’re proud to say that a new EAC squad is up to the challenge this season and is ready for the big time," said Romeo Gabriel, EAC P.E. director and UCAA president.

Gabriel’s confidence stemmed from the fact that the school’s sports program now stands on solid ground under the supervision of Rodiel Kirby Baloy, director EAC Office of Sports Development.