The Cobra Challenge 2008, featuring alumni athletes, highlights Southwestern University’s Alumni Day at the Aznar Coliseum today.
All eyes will be on former and current SWU volleybelles who will be the first to see action. At present, SWU is on the volleyball radar after its beach volleyball team won the national championship in Boracay.
The old hands, is like a who’s who list, with Thelma Barina Rojas, Grace Antigua, Zenaida Ybañez Echavez, Aillen Ybañez Suson, Yolanda Pil Rizarri, Rosemary Molit Prochina, Chandrina Mahiulum Tumabang, Joy Bardago Padilla, Joreen Sanchez, Jackilou Jimenez and Janeth Ponte.
Out to spoil the day for the oldies are the youngsters, with the current toast of SWU volleyball, Florian Gutierrez and Janelle Tabio, who won the 12th Nestea Beach Volleyball Championships in Boracay, leading the charge.
The other game will feature the White and Blue teams of former SWU basketball players who played in commercial tournaments.
The White Team have the likes of Paul Maninang, Nonoy Gonzaga, Mario Naron, Calvin Tuadles, Rey Potot, Maynard Padilla, Arnold Ciabo, Dilbert Ompad, Roel Natividad, George Aznar, Alvin Plaudin, Fermin Baure, Danilo Aying, Eric Espinosa, Mark Anthony Tallo and Danilo Genrdauli.
Composing the Blue Team are the equally eager and vaunted Cesar Ortega, Edwin Kitane, Eddie Espinosa, John Flores, Arnold Contorno, Lamberto Lawas, Bong Begontes, Ahmed Lozano, Rey Eduave, Bebot Ompad, Elmer dela Cruz, Joel Rosales, Jerome Acebron, Edgar Dionson and Roy Galon.
The special guests of the day are the members of the SWU Cobras, who just came back from Xiamen City in China, playing exhibition games against taller Chinese squads. The trip was a promised incentive from the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) for SWU after winning the 62nd National Students Basketball Championships (NSBC) held in Cebu in March.
The other part of the day’s order of business will be the election of alumni officers.
Alumni president Atty. Climaco S. Camiso, Pierre Infante of the SWU Alumni Foundation, Inc. and the Athletic Department through Ryan P. Aznar are the event’s organizers. (GGM)