ASIDE from the centerpiece basketball tournament, the 33rd season of the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) which opens October 4 will have eight other sports event to be played in the first semester.

Eduardo Luareano, athletic director of host Cordillera Career Development College, said the action in first semester will heat up the incoming season despite the absence of one of its members.

Laureano added archery, badminton, baseball, chess, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, and wushu will all be played in the first semester while 10 other sports will see action in the second phase of the competition including the men’s and women’s volleyball.

“We will finalize all schedules when we meet on August 24. We are excited with the upcoming opening because this will usher another season of BBEAL,” added Laureano.

Kings College of the Philippines, which was admitted to the league in 2015, is taking a leave of absence this year due to lack of players according to Laureano.

Kings College, after being admitted as 11th member in season 29, hosted the league two years ago.

“All schools will be seeing action except for KCP because they have filed a leave,” said Laureano.

Aside from KCP, Pines City Colleges is also thinking of skipping the basketball tournament but Luareano said there is no final word from Pines yet.

Laureano added this year’s BBEAL opening will be simple yet memorable as it will focus on the camaraderie of athletes.

University of Baguio will defend the men’s and women’s basketball competition.

Other members of the BBEAL are Baguio Central University, Baguio College of Technology, Benguet State University, Philippine Military Academy, University of the Cordilleras, University of the Philippines–Baguio, and Saint Louis University.