Sports Eye
LNU and UL quintets, champions again?
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
THERE are two collegiate basketball tourneys being held here in Dagupan City these days. The Universities Colleges Athletic Association of Pangasinan (UCAAP) and the (Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA) tourney.
UCAAP is composed of five tertiary schools is spearheaded by defending champion Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes. Unfortunately the league is without the multi-titled PRISAA champions University of Luzon (UL) Golden Tigers, Colegio de Dagupan and PAMMA.
PRISAA group, on the other hand, has the reigning titlists UL and likewise with five college institutions but sans LNU, UPang and PIMSAT. I don’t really know the reasons why that these two groups are no longer under one umbrella like they used to.
In the past, the skirmishes of these two camps were held at Dagupan People’s Astrodome and every time a title-contender team clashed with another, I knew I had to watch it. That’s what happened last week with UL and LNU prevailing against their respective archrivals.
As of this writing, Sept. 17, they both register three wins with no loss. Pundits say the Golden Tigers of head coach Jack Vidal will most likely retain their diadem with Calasiao-based Philippine College of Science and Technology (PCST) Topnotch mentored by former PBA player Christian Calaguio as the only team in their way. But the Dukes of head coach Nanoy Duque have two, the UPang Flames and Topnotch.
The Perez boulevard-based Golden Tigers clobbered the Topnotch, 95-78, last Sept. 14 in their first of two meetings in the elimination round (See related story on this page) while the Dukes also plastered the Topnotch, 97-66, in their first encounter and the two have to tangle anew on Sept. 29 at Astrodome for the qualifying round. The Dukes defeated the Flames in their first clash and the duo will meet again on Sept. 25. Win or lose the Golden Tigers and Dukes will occupy the top positions after the elims to take the twice to beat advantage in the semifinals.
The PRISAA winner here will battle the best in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte and if lucky will represent Region 1 in the National PRISAA Games next year while the UCAAP champion will tangle with the best of La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Cordillera region en route to national Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).
Pundits say it will be walk in the park for the Golden Tigers’ games while the Dukes will face some turbulence when they face the Flames and Topnotch, but the Dukes remain the favorite to take the tiara, again. Let’s wait and see.
* * * *
It’s unfortunate that Australian boxer David Browne died from a solid punch delivered by a Filipino little-known pugilist Carlo Magali of Talibon, Bohol in a match held in New South Wales, Australia recently. The 28-year-old five-foot-eleven Browne toting a 22-2-1 (win-loss-draw) record was knocked out in the 12th and final round for the IBF Pan-Pacific junior lightweight (130 lbs.) crown and died four days after. This reminds me of a similar incident six months ago, where Aussie boxer Braydon Smith succumbed to injuries he sustained in a fight against Pinoy brawler John Vincent Moralde in a fight held in Queensland, Australia. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is to show again that this sport is so violent that already killed many boxers including world champions Pancho Villa of the Philippines and Cuban born American Benny Kid Paret. Expers say the sport should be banned but I don’t think it will ever be. What happened to Villa and Paret and to the Australian boxers and others are only isolated cases.
* * * *
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 11 PETER: 2
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
