MANILA, Philippines – The Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association will include a separate division for senior high school students as it enters its eighth edition.
"Most of our participating schools will field in teams for senior high. It will be like a junior's division," ISAA president Melanie Florentino said at the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate in Manila.
The eighth season will open on September 6 at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Eight schools will return, including host school St. Dominic College of Asia, which will see opening day hostilities against Manila Tytana Colleges.
Defending champion PATTS College of Aeronautics will begin its title defense against La Consolacion College Manila. Senior high teams of MTC and LCCM complete the opening day games.
Aside from basketball and volleyball, the ISAA will introduce new sports like futsal and bowling.
Florentino said that unlike other leagues, ISAA will prioritize athlete's academic standings since not all member schools provide full scholarships.
"We lose players because they have failing grades, which make them ineligible. Academics pa din ang priority. We don't offer many scholarships," she said.