UCAA 12th season fetes nat’l players

MANILA, Philippines - National team members, who used to play in the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA), will be honored when the Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) hosts the 12th season of the collegiate league unfolding this Saturday.

UCAA president Tisha Abundo bared this during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate, where she also announced the schedule of four-game bill that will kick off cage hostilities at the Blue Eagle gym inside the Ateneo campus in Quezon City.

Gilas Pilipinas national squad members such as Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text, Gary David of GlobalPort, and Mark Pingris of San Mig Coffee in the PBA once played for collegiate squads in the UCAA.

De Ocampo saw action for St. Francis of Assisi, David suited up for the Lyceum Pirates, and Pingris was once part of the PSBA Jaguars.

“We would like to mention that they started and once played in our league, and we are proud of this,” said Abundo during the weekly session presented by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Shakey’s.

Abundo was accompanied in the same forum by Cesar Hagos of Olivarez College, Michael Lao of the Philippine Nautical Training College, Noraida Larosa of Rizal Technological University, Jun Quino of the National College of Business and Arts, basketball commissioner George Magsino, and volleyball commissioner Butch Montinola.

Nine schools will take part in the 12th edition of the collegiate tournament backed by Molten and Mikasa, with the host team PSBA Jaguars clashing with NCBA in the opener at 10 a.m. 

De La Salle University-Dasmariñas takes on the Manuel L. Quezon University Stallions at 11:30 a.m. and defending champion Olivarez College Sea Lions face the RTU Blue Thunder at 1 p.m.

In the last game, PNTC meets the Trinity University of Asia Stallions at 2:30 p.m.

Last year, the Sea Lions won the men’s cage crown by beating the La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots, 103-101.

Titles will also be at stake in men’s and women’s volleyball, which will have its initial games on Sept. 3 at the Olivarez College gymnasium in Sucat, Parañaque.