BCT formalizes entry in BBEAL

BAGUIO College of Technology is now formally the tenth member of the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League when it opens August 25 with the University of Baguio hosting its 26th season.

BCT’s entry into the nine school conclave was formalized Tuesday morning after the BBEAL’s board of directors came into terms of accepting the school’s membership who has been applying since 2009.

“It’s finally approved,” quipped UB athletic director Eduardo Laureano in an interview.

Ten sports disciplines, including the premiere basketball tournament, get underway in the first phase of the tournament with eight other sports events to be staged in the second semester of the season.

Volleyball, archery, badminton, chess, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, tae kwon do and arnis will be played in the first part of the 26th season.

Meanwhile, BCT president Wilfredo Abad Jr. felt elated of their participation for this year’s BBEAL after five years of waiting.

“Finally our long wait is over, now we can compete with the big guys,” added Abad.

The Technical Vocational school was originally asked to pay P250,000 as membership fee on a staggered basis way back in 2010 when the University of the Philippines hosted the annual collegiate tournament.

But for this year, the P250,000 was lowered to P100,000 for its membership dues.

“The P100,000 will be paid on a staggered basis and will have to pay P50,000 for the tournament aside from the P100,000 membership dues.

BCT, formally called the Eagles in their Cordillera Higher Education Sports Athletics Association will don the Atoms jersey and will join at least five sports events in the first phase of the competition.

The Atoms, according to Abad, will joining the premiere men’s basketball competition, men’s volleyball, badminton and table tennis.

BBEAL was organized in 1986 with just 7 member schools but has increased to nine member schools from Baguio City and Benguet before BCT came into picture.

The member schools are Baguio Central University Eagles (BCU), Benguet State University Wildcats (BSU), Cordillera Career Development College Admirals (CCDC), Philippine Military Academy Cavaliers (PMA), Pines City Colleges Warriors (PCC), Saint Louis University Navigators, UB Cardinals, University of the Cordilleras Jaguars, and UP Baguio Maroons (UP).