Cordillera bets open bid in Prisaa

UNIVERSITY of Baguio and the University of the Cordilleras open their respective bids for a better finish this time as the 2013 Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) National Games open February 11 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The region will try to beat its 8th place finish last year with three gold medals, including 17 silver and 16 bronze medals, with some 5,000 athletes, officials and coaches from 17 regions seeing action in 18 different individual and team events.

Cesar Castañeto led the medalists last year after winning two gold mints in the 5,000 and the 10,000 meters long distance run in the men’s division, while taekwondo flyweight Billy Joe Soria also brought home a gold medal.

Athletics and tae kwon do are among the sports the region is expected to excel in the weeklong national collegiate competition.

Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas, D.D., is guest of honor and speaker in the opening of the 2013 Prisaa in celebration of its 60th anniversary with the presentation of Diamond Jubilee Awards to individuals who have displayed unwavering support to the organization.

The theme of this year’s competition is “Prisaa: Celebrating 60 years of Excellence in Sports.”

One of the highlights of the opening program is the drum and bugle corps exhibition with performers from the San Carlos College, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation and University of Luzon.

The search for the Mutya ng Prisaa 2013 and the vocal solo and duet competitions will be held on February 13 at the Sison Auditorium of the Lingayen Capitol Complex.

Prisaa is the country’s largest national sports association with more than 500 member colleges and universities from 17 regions. Since its revival in 1990 by Angeles and with very minimal support from government, it has been successfully staging provincial, regional and national competitions every year geared towards countryside youth development through sports.

Among the well-known former Prisaa athletes were Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros, Josephine dela Vega, Mona Sulaiman, Rogelio Onofre, Jerry Codiñera, Marlou Aquino and EJ Feihl. (Roderick Osis)