Maiden VAAA season to kick off in Bohol, Nov. 4

The province of Bohol braces itself for a piece of history in the field of sports as it will host the opening salvo of the inaugural season of the newly-formed Visayas Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA) on November 4, the very same day the Boholanos celebrate the "Carlos P. Garcia Day."

This was unanimously agreed upon by the representatives and coaches of participating schools in a meeting presided over by VAAA founder and Cebu City Councilor Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba yesterday at Chez Lucie French restaurant in Brgy. Banilad, this city.

The VAAA is set to hold a season-opening double-header on November 4, with the Holy Name University (HNU) in Tagbilaran City hosting the games.

The following day, it will be the turn of Bohol Institute of Technology-International College (BIT-IC) of Provincial Board member and Bohol Sports Commission (BSC) chairman Atty. Dionisio Balite to host the action.

So far, a total of seven teams have confirmed their participation in the fledging region-wide league fully backed by M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala through businessman-sportsman Michel Lhuillier.

Dumaguete City/Negros Oriental fields in the most number of entries with three:Silliman University (SU), Foundation University (FU), and Asian College of Science and Technology (ACSAT).

Bohol has two in HNU and BIT-IC, while Cebu and Ormoc City has only one representative each in Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) and Western Leyte College (WLC), respectively.

Reigning National Inter-Collegiate champion West Negros College (WBC)-Mustangs of Bacolod has also signified its intent to take part in the VAAA cage wars.

Alcoseba, who is also the BAP vice president for the Visayas, is looking forward to more teams knocking in VAAA's door as they gear up for their maiden voyage in the local circuit.

The competing teams are advised to submit the credentials of their athletes one month prior to the start of the tournament, which follows a home-and-away format.