Saints defend NAASCU title sans key men

MANILA, Philippines - St. Clare will be hard-pressed to defend its men’s basketball title in the absence of two key players when the 13th season of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) gets underway on Aug. 13 at the Makati Coliseum.

Gunners Jeff Viernes and Eugene Torres will no longer be around as the Saints begin their title defense against Centro Escolar University during the first game of a triple-header on opening day.

The 11 a.m. tussle between the reigning champions and Scorpions is a rematch of last year’s title series which the Saints won via a sweep, 2-0.

Host school Fatima University then tangles with City University of Pasay in the second game at 1 p.m., followed by the match pitting Rizal Technological University versus New Era University at 3 p.m.

 â€œAnything can happen in this tournament,” said Dr. Jay Adalem of St. Clare and current NAASCU chairman during Tuesday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate. “We really need to step up in order for us to defend our title.”

League president Dr. Vic Santos of Fatima University describes the Phoenix as the tournament dark horse after retaining the core of last year’s  team intact and the elevation of juniors coach and former San Beda stalwart and national team player Ralph Rivera as coach of the varsity team.

“We like our chances as a darkhorse team,” said Santos, accompanied by league secretary Peper Sanchez in the session presented by Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation.

A total of nine teams will be part of the NAASCU’s 13th season as former members University of Makati and Lyceum of Subic Bay are set to return, while Polytechnic University of the Philippines makes its debut in the league.

The centerpiece event of basketball will be the only sport to be played in the first semester while the rest will be held in the second semester. Among them are track and field, taekwondo, swimming, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess, handball, cheerdance and billiards.

“We take pride in being the only collegiate league that has billiards in its calendar of events,” Adalem stressed.

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) commissioner Fritz Gaston, a former basketball star at Ateneo, will be the special guest during the opening ceremony that starts at 9 a.m.