PRISAA nat’l games kick off in Tagum today

MANILA, Philippines - Former Olympic swimmer and current Philippine Sports Commission official Akiko Thomson-Guevara will be the guest of honor and speaker at the opening of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games today at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City.

More than 5,000 athletes, coaches and technical officials from all over the country will vie for honors in 18 sports and events as well as academic and cultural competitions ending on April 11, according to PRISAA national chairman Emmanuel Angeles.

Also gracing today’s opening rites are Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, University of Mindanao EVP Dr. Pedro San Jose, education officials and PRISAA national and regional officers.

The sportsfest will be capped by the crowning of Mutya ng PRISAA at 6 p.m. on April 11 at the RDR Gym in Mankilam, Tagum City.

The history of PRISAA dates back to 1953, when it was organized by Bureau of Private Schools director Manuel Carreon.  In 1990, the sportsfest was revived through the initiative of PSC chairman Cecil Hechanova.

Under the leadership of Angeles, PRISAA has been successfully staging city, provincial, regional and national games with support from government agencies, LGUs, corporate sponsors, benefactors and friends.

PRISAA has close to 500 member colleges and universities from the country’s 17 regions.

PRISAA’s products include sprinters Lydia de Vega and Elma Muros and basketball stars Jerry Codiñera, Marlou Aquino and Joseph Feihl, among others.