Cage stars of the present and the past are expected to grace the 12th season of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) which kicks off on July 30 at the Makati Coliseum.
Four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alvin Patrimonio, Olsen Racela and Chris Tiu join actor-sportsman Richard Gomez as special guests during the colorful opening ceremony to be prepared by host school St. Clare College.
A heavy four-game bill in the centerpiece event of basketball later usher the league’s new season, which has the theme “Driven To Succeed.”
“It’s going to be a big bang for Naascu this year especially with the addition of beach volleyball and beach handball in our school calendar,” said league president Dr. Jay Adalem in the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.
“We’re very proud that every year, may nadadagdag sa sports calendar namin,” he added, noting the debut of billiards in the league last year that made Naascu the first and only college tournament which included the game of pool in its sports events.
Basketball will be the only sport to be played in Naascu’s first semester, according to STI official Mhel Garrido, who was also guest in the session presented by Smart, the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and Shakey’s. The rest like volleyball, taekwondo, track and field, swimming, badminton, cheer dance, table tennis and chess will be held in the second semester.
Back-to-back men’s champion University of Manila has taken a leave of absence, making the field a wide-open race for the championship among eight member schools.