THE Eastern Visayas State University (Evsu) and Samar State University (SSU) will clash anew in an epic match for the Game 2 finals of the Eastern Visayas Collegiate Association (Evcaa) Season 1 basketball tournament at the Tacloban Convention Center (Astrodome) on Saturday, April 6.
Evsu, with its most valuable player Raffy Gravador, is determined to maintain its advantage in the upcoming battle after it sank SSU during the Game 1 last week with the score of 73-71.
“Evcaa players are a true inspiration to all of us here in Eastern Visayas,” said commissioner Julius Ross Lacaba.
As the Season 1 of this well-rounded tournament is nearing its final stop, Lacaba urged basketball fans to watch the game and show their passion for basketball sports for the second time at the astrodome.
“This Evcaa is not only about basketball. This is about our region, our league, and our dream,” added Lacaba.
“One of the main goals of Evcaa is to activate the communities of the participating universities through our sports program,” Lacaba said.
Aside from Evsu and SSU, the other participating state colleges and universities are Eastern Samar State University (Essu), Leyte Normal University (LNU), Naval State University (NSU), Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), Visayas State University (VSU), and Biliran Province State University (BiPSU).
In the last week’s game, the commissioner recognized the Evcaa Season 1 “Mythical 5” as Raffy Gravador of Evsu; Rogen Pagliawan, SSU; Joseph Anthony Arellano, SSU; Mark Andrew Amoguis, LNU; and John Paul Magdaraog, UEP.
Also, BiPSU took a commanding lead for the third place after defeating UEP, 95-83.
Evcaa launched Season 1 of the basketball tournament in January this year as a support to the national agenda on grassroots sports development.
“Our vision is to be able to produce players who will compete in the national and international basketball tournaments,” said Lacaba.
The commissioner also thanked the different supporters of the games, to include SBP, PRTV Tacloban, K Box Studios, Reptours, and Tingog party-list, as its main sponsor.
Evcaa is supported by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the basketball governing body authorized by the country and sanctioned by the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).
Its creation is patterned around the concept and structure of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), two of the premier collegiate athletic associations in the country.
Earlier, LNU President Jude Duarte said that if student-athletes will be provided with more incentives, scholarships, and exposure to tournaments, the players “will be enticed to join in the school rather than playing outside.”
He also thanked the support of his fellow university presidents and their players for making the Season 1 a reality. (SunStar Philippines)