2015 UCAAP and PRISAA

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

WE avid followers of basketball games in the province now have mixed feelings about the UCAAP (Universities Colleges Athletic Association of Pangasinan) and the PRISAA (Private School Athletic Association) tournaments. Both used to hold tournaments under one umbrella but for reasons known only to the school owners, the two prestigious school sports groups are now holding their own skirmishes apart from each, resulting in two champions. Consequently, nobody really knows now who reigns supreme in Pangasinan caging, unlike before when one school was clearly established to be the best team.

The UCAAP games this season commenced last August 25 with Dangerous Drug Board chairman Sec. Antonio “Bebot” Villar, Jr. as guest of honor and speaker. Dagupan City dignitaries like hizzoner Belen T. Fernandez, UCAAP president Atty. Gonzalo Duque (with his son Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) athletic director Nestor Cesar Duque) were there to add color to the ceremony.

There was a solemn tribute to LNU Dukes wily guard George Alipio who died last summer. Many of the championship pennants won by the Dukes were credited to the services of Alipio under the tutelage of former LNU’s head coach Angel Gumarang. Yes, we really miss the guy from Labrador town and his absence this season will be felt by the Dukes squad. Some of his die-hard fans, including Gonz, especially his former teammates became emotional during the tribute. Yes, he’s so young to leave this world with plenty to spare for the Dukes and his family.

In this year’s UCAAP hostilities, only five institutions are seeing action, namely LNU Dukes, UPang Flames, AIE Green Archers, PIMSAT Dragons and the PHILCST Topnotch. Conspicuously absent are PAMMA, ICE of Urdaneta City and PSU of Lingayen. At any rate, the opening thriller saw how the boys of Nestor Cesar (Nanoy) Duque thwarted anew its archenemy and 2005 champion Flames.

How the Topnotch under the new mentorship of two former PBA players Christian Calaguio and Jun Marzan escaped with a pulsating two-point victory over title-hungry Green Eagles last Tuesday was another story. I noted that were it not for a coaching gaffe during the dying minutes of the game, it should have been an easy victory for the Topnotch. Well, that’s part of the breaks, ‘ika nga.

But here’s the breaking news. Atty. Duque surprised me last Tuesday with LNU’s decision to rejoin the PRISAA tourney possibly next year. That’s what we are hoping for. “Sports should never be politicized,” as the saying goes.

UCAAP objective in this tourney is to advance to the regional meet, onward to the Luzon league and eventually the national championship. The PRISAA also has a similar format with the regional champion going to the national championship, with 17 regions clashing for the title. So let’s wait and see. Hopefully our UCAAP and PRISAA champs will be strong enough for the long haul. Like I’ve always maintained, “champions are not born, but they are developed.”

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of the others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 2: 4-5

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