Blue Griffins go for four-peat in UCSAA tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Grand slam champion Colegio de San Lorenzo sets out for a record fourth straight championship as it leads the field in the Universities Colleges Schools Athletic Association (UCSAA) basketball tournament firing off Aug. 14 at the Ynares Coliseum in Pasig.

Handled by multi-titled coach Boni Garcia, the Quezon City-based Blue Griffins are all primed up for another crack at the championship to firm up their claim as the most dominant team in the five-year-old league.

But four other member-schools are raring to foil their bid, including inaugural champion St. Dominic Savio College, last year’s runner-up Pasig Catholic College, La Salle-Araneta University and University of Makati.

“This is our fifth year already and we really hope to duplicate, if not surpass, our success in the first four years,” said UCSAA president Dr. Nestor de la Cruz of host St. Dominic Savio College during the event launch at the Aberdeen Court in Quezon City last Wednesday.      

Highlighting the event was the presentation of the candidates for Ms. UCSAA 2015 and Ms. Teen UCSAA 2015 with the St. Dominic Savio College Cultural Dance Troupe under director Raynaldo Jaguio performing.

De la Cruz also announced that the league’s theme this year is “One Vision, One Spirit, One Team: UCSAA Reaching Greater Heights.”

Last year, CdSL made history by beating Pasig Catholic College, 76-68, to complete the grand slam at the San Juan Coliseum.