Abundo back as NCRAA president

Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) athletic directress Tisha D. Abundo is back at the helm of the country’s biggest athletic conglomeration, the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA), which opens its 13th season Jan. 13 next year.

Abundo, former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), was elected president of the 13-school athletic association, which has produced the likes of Ranidel and Yancy de Ocampo, who are now playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

"It’s nice to be back. The challenge is how to keep NCRAA’s status as one of the premier collegiate leagues in the country today and maintain its tradition of sporting excellence," said Abundo. "With 12 other schools backing me up, this task is made easier."

Teddy C. Talens of Olivarez College was voted vice president while Benjamin Hernandez of PATTS College of Aeronautics was chosen secretary. Other key officials of the NCRAA are treasurer Rewel Santural (AMA Computer College), auditor Nomar A. Isla (of host school Emilio Aguinaldo College) and PRO Jun Quinio (National College of Business and Arts).

Abundo has grand plans for the association, foremost of which is further strengthening the league’s level of competition.

"I have talked with the member schools and they have vowed to put up competitive teams that can play at a top level consistently from beginning to end of the competition," said Abundo. "Fans, sponsors and supporters of the NCRAA can be assured then of outstanding sports action from our members. The NCRAA is where it is now primarily because the level of competition is always high and we intend to keep it that way."

Other member schools of the NCRAA are Arellano University, De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, Philippine Maritime College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Saint Francis of Assisi and new league members City College of Manila and Asian College of Science and Technology.

Abundo served as honorary president of the NCRAA from 1998 to 2000 due to her stint as commissioner of the PSC.

Abundo, who was an outstanding national volleyball player during her prime, is also organizer of the highly-successful Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament, which is entering its fourth season next year.