NCR off to shining start in SCUAA

ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines – Top favorite National Capital Region lived up to its high billing in the 2011 SCUAA National Olympics, winning its matches in the men’s volleyball, softball and sepak takraw at the Melanio Singson Sports Complex here Tuesday.

The 328-strong NCR delegation built around athletes from different state colleges and universities in Metro Manila, stamped its class over Central Luzon in men’s volleyball, Western Visayas in softball and Bicol in sepak takraw.

In baseball, NCR also defeated Southern Tagalog in a hotly-contested match.

Domingo Tamacay, one of the leading NCR coaches, said proper training and exposure as well as moral and financial support by their respective colleges and universities enabled the NCR athletes to take the headstart in this week-long competition organized by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and hosted by the provincial government of Ilagan, Isabela.

NCR, represented by athletes from the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), bullied its way against Bicol-Region V athletes on the way to a smashing victory.

Cagayan Valley-Region II team, which is composed mostly of athletes from Cagayan State University and Isabela State University, edged Ilocos-Region I to prime itself up for its meeting with NCR on the second day of competitions on Wednesday..

The prestigious competition formally opened Monday with a colorful parade of 3,685 participants and officials from 109 state universities and colleges in 16 regions all over the country.

Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III and Aurora Rep. Juan Antonio Angara graced the colorful opening ceremony, along with TESDA director-general Sec. Emmnuel Joel Villanueva and Ilagan Mayor Jose Marie Diaz.

PASUC president Dr. Lauro Tacbas delivered the opening remarks.