21st NAASCU cagefest slated Oct. 23

MANILA, Philippines – The National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities will hold its 21st edition with 10 schools seeing action in its premier basketball competition unfolding October 23 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

NAASCU chair Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem said his school St. Claire U will open its title-defense against New Era University after the 9 a.m. inaugural.

And then it will be City University of Pasay versus University of Makati, Philippine Christian University against Manuel Luis Quezon University, and Fatima versus last year’s runner-up Enderun.

Other member schools are AMA University and Holy Angel University.

“It’s our 21st season, dapat 23 na kaya lang we were stopped by the pandemic,” said Adalem in Tuesday’s public service Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Apart from basketball, the league also has in its calendar volleyball, track and field, cheering competition, table tennis, taekwondo, badminton, chess, volleyball and billiards.

NAASCU will also have beach handball, which will soon be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“We expect a very good competition,” said Adalem.