BEFORE the Philippine Collegiate Champions League wars, the University of San Carlos Warriors will carry Philippine flag in the inaugural six-nation 1st Asia Pacific University Games (APUG) in Cebu City on Dec. 4 to 8.
APUG is a multi-sport event that is organized by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (Fessap). It is led by chairman David Ong in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), headed by Dr. Patricia Licuanan, and will be hosted by the University of Cebu.
“We are excited and thrilled to bring the inaugural APUG competitions to Cebu City. It will be historic considering that this will mark the first time that Cebu will be hosting an international sports event of such magnitude,” said Ong.
Apug co-chairman and UC’s executive vice-chancellor and dean of the college of law lawyer Baldomero Estenzo is also upbeat of the competition, which will feature three events--men’s basketball and badminton and men’s and women’s table tennis.
The teams competing in the five-day event are the Universiti Teknoligi Mara (UiTM) of Malaysia, Nippon Science Sports University of Japan, Korea University Sports Federation, the Papuan Blacks V2 of Papua New Guineas and USC and the University of Cebu Webmasters.
Men’s basketball, which is expected to draw huge crowds, will be managed by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), headed by president Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, while badminton and table Tennis will be handled by the Fessa[ badminton and table tennis clubs in association with the Table Tennis Association of the Philippine Inc..
The aim of this competition is to foster friendship and camaraderie among university athletes from the Asia and Pacific regions. It is supported by Joe Boxer as the official outfitter, Bestank Corporation, H2O Hydro Corporation, Megaworld Corporation, Healthy Options and Fronte Motors.