|
Friday, October 10, 2003
Lipa to oversee NCAA v. UAAP tourney
FORMER national coach Joe Lipa opted to defer his break from basketball at the end of another successful stint as commissioner of the UAAP as he agreed to render service for the Bantay Bata 163 benefit games aptly dubbed the UAAP-NCAA Showdown, which starts on Oct. 14 at the Blue Eagle Gym.
“We chose Commissioner Joe (Lipa) because he has both stature and capability to deal with officials and players of both of the country’s elite collegiate leagues,” explained Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN’s VP for sports.
Lipa’s appointment is the last piece of the UAAP-NCAA Showdown puzzle, where the Final Four teams of the two leagues face-off in a crossover format. Lipa also served as commissioner last year when the benefit games for ABS-CBN Foundation’s child rescue project were first staged to a warm reception from the students and alumni of the UAAP and NCAA teams.
It was the first time that the league’s best teams all participated in one tournament officially recognized and sanctioned by the hierarchy.
Although he is likewise busy with the upcoming resumption of his pet project, Champion’s League, Lipa consented to handling the tournament reins a second time despite all difficulties that are packaged with the position. He is optimistic that the negative atmosphere of bitter competition will take a backseat in this tournament.
“Everybody’s efforts are all for a noble cause so I cannot see why personal and selfish sentiments should spoil this fund-raiser for children,” Lipa said.
With the conclusion of the UAAP last Oct. 5, the Showdown match-ups were identified for the knockout eliminations. Under the original format, UAAP champion Far Eastern University under coach Enrico Banal will face NCAA No.4 Mapua Institute of Technology under coach Horacio Lim.
UAAP runner-up Ateneo de Manila University under coach Joel Banal will meet NCAA No.3 Jose Rizal University under coach Reynaldo de Vera. Meanwhile, NCAA runner-up San Sebastian College-Recoletos under coach Arturo Valenzona will play UAAP No.3 and Showdown defending champion University of the East under coach David Zamar.
NCAA champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran under coach Louie Alas will collide with UAAP No.4 De La Salle University under coach Franz Pumaren.
The UAAP-NCAA Showdown will move to the Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 16 until the finals and the two-game crossover NCAA versus UAAP All-Star Sunday on Oct. 19.
Proceeds will go to the development and maintenance of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Children’s Village, a 2.5-hectare property donated by Meralco, which will house 200 wards rescued from abusive situations while they undergo treatment and rehabilitation until they are re-integrated into society.
(October 10, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
