SBC-Alabang faces SPC in NCAA-South

MANILA, Philippines - Host San Beda College Alabang opens its campaign against San Pablo College as the 13th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-South kicks off hostilities today with basketball and volleyball following colorful opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. at the SBCA gym in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The SBC Alabang Red Lions of coach Aldrin Morante tackle the San Pablo cagers at 12 noon ushering in a quadruple bill of basketball games capped by the match pitting reigning five-time NCAA junior champions SBC Alabang Red Cubs against San Pablo at 4:30 p.m.

Noted mentor Joe Lipa is the 13th NCAA South’s basketball tournament commissioner.

Volleyball also shares the spotlight on the opening day of the premier collegiate league south of Metro Manila with Letran-Calamba tackling Don Bosco Technical Colleges-Mandaluyong in the men’s division starting the four-match schedule also at 12 o’clock.

Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios and deputy Bernie Atienza have been invited as the guests of honor to grace the inaugural rites of the 13th NCAA South preceding the games and which has for its theme “Nation Building Through Sports.”

“We would like to welcome everyone to the opening of the 13th NCAA South and we look forward to an exciting season ahead for all 10 competing schools,” Dom Clement H. Ma. Roque, OSB, SBC rector-president and league policy board chair, said on the eve of the event.

“Our previous host, FAITH, set the bar high in the 12th season of the NCAA South,” Dom Roque said.

“And just as we said when we received the NCAA South colors from FAITH president Bong Belen, we will aim to maintain and sustain the excellence of the league, all in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play,” he added.

First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities of Tanauan, Batangas, De La Salle Lipa, Lyceum University-Batangas, Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas, University of Perpetual Help-Laguna and league newcomer Unversity of Batangas are other member schools of the NCAA South.

Aside from basketball and volleyball, the first semester will also feature chess in the competition sponsored by by Chocolate Clothing, Philips Avent, Goody and Chefs Classics.

Badminton, beach volleyball, football, lawn tennis and table tennis make up the league’s calendar in the next semester.

An overall championship will be at stake for the second straight year in the NCAA South that was won last year by UPHL.