Lipa back as NC commish

MANILA, Philippines - The National Collegiate Athletic Association has re-appointed former national team head coach Joe Lipa as commissioner of this year’s NCAA basketball, which gets going June 22 at the MOA Arena in Pasay.

“We’re excited to have coach Joe Lipa again, a respected coach and basketball official in our country. We’re looking forward to work with him again this season,” said the members of the NCAA Season 89 organizing committee and this year’s host St. Benilde.

San Beda kicks off its title retention drive against St. Benilde at 4 p.m. while San Sebastian battles last year’s runner-up Letran at 6 p.m. 

Meanwhile, St. Benilde will have its kickoff party at 2 p.m. today at the Augusto-Rosario Theater, 5th floor of the DLS-CSB Taft Campus. This will be the second time that Benilde will play host to the NCAA, with the first in 2006.

“After seven years, we’re thrilled to be the host again this year. We’re optimistic that 89 Season will be another banner year for the NCAA,” said NCAA MANCOM chairman Dax Castellano of St. Benilde.

The league’s theme “Our Stars Will Shine in 89” highlights the collective commitment of the NCAA to inspire excellence in education and sports, particularly the performance of athletes not just in basketball but also in other sports as well.

They include volleyball, football, tennis, table tennis, swimming, chess, track and field, taekwondo, beach volleyball, badminton and cheerleading.

Lipa was actually involved with the NCAA in the past, although it was only last year when the league – through last Season’s host Letran – appointed him as commissioner.

According to Lipa, the Basketball Referees Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (BRASCU), led by technical chief Romy Guevara, will officiate the games.

“I’m very happy that the NCAA gave me the trust and confidence to be the commissioner again,” said Lipa. “I’m thankful and appreciative to the NCAA Policy Board and MANCOM, which I have to reciprocate by doing my best.”

“Our goal this Season is to continue the NCAA tradition of fairness, empathy and respect in the true spirit of sportsmanship and to continuously educate the players, as well as the coaches about the rules of the game of basketball,” said Lipa.