SEAG medalists open 26th BBEAL season

SOUTHEAST Asian Games (SEAG) medalists Alice Kate Aparri and Katherine Kaye Santos will lead the opening rites as the annual collegiate wars in the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League formally kicks off its 26th season.

In opening the season hosted by University of Baguio, Aparri, the SEAG boxing gold medalist in 2011, will light the symbolic torch while Santos, long jump bronze medalist also in the 2011 SEAG, will lead the Oath of Sportsmanship.

The city’s Big Three universities defend their respective titles with Saint Louis University leading the charge as it defends in eight of the 15 events from eight sports discipline during the first semester of play.

“Laban talaga kami,” said SLU athletics director Henry Fuentes as the city’s biggest school of more than 25,000 students defends the titles in women’s basketball, men’s volleyball, women’s chess, women’s table tennis and both the titles in archery and badminton.

“Kayang sumabay sa mga sport na medyo alanganin,” added Fuentes, referring to table tennis and archery.

Fuentes is also hopeful that his female volleyball team returns after 11 years to the top podium and after last year’s upset loss to neighbor rival UB.

He added: “Although we have a relatively young team, we will be there against the city’s best volleyball squads,” referring to rivals UB, a three-time and defending champion, and six-peat winner University of the Cordilleras, owner of nine straight men’s crown and eight straight women’s titles.

Host UB Cardinals is expected to make a big splash anew this year as swimming was moved to the first semester while the University of the Cordilleras defends the most coveted men's basketball crown since the BBEAL was started 16 years ago and nine years before that, and in sepak takraw, the only event this semester open to men.

Baguio College of Technology, the youngest member in the BBEAL will also be tested when it goes up against many time champion Cardinals in the men’s basketball after the simple yet colorful opening program.

“Our main weapon is our defense. Walang player na malas sa depensa, yan ang laging emphasis ko sa aming team,” said BCT coach Wilfredo Antonio.

BCT will be called Atoms now after carrying the name Eagles in the other league but has to change it since the name is carried by Baguio Central University.

Eight of the 10 schools will also debut today in men's basketball with SLU facing Benguet State University, now named the Buffalos from Musangs (Wildcats), two-time champion Cordillera Career Development College up against the University of the Philippines Maroons and Philippine Military Academy against BCU.

Defending champion UC Jaguars, meanwhile, opens their title retention bud against BSU Sunday at the SLU gym.

On Sunday, men’s volleyball champion SLU debuts against BCT after rivals UB and UC played BCT and UP-Baguio Saturday at the SLU gym. CCDC goes up against PMA, while BSU opens the games against Pines City College.

Also to be played on Sunday, SLU plays PCC, UP up against CCDC and UC tests BCU in women’s volleyball at the UB gym. PMA goes upo against UC, UP against UB and PCC and CCDC collide in the afternoon games for men.