The National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) made a grand comeback this year as it officially opened its 21st season last 23 October 2023 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Dominated by the raucous cheering of the audience, the latest NAASCU season commenced with a bang with mostly students and delegates filling up the dome.
All ten participating academic institutions of NAASCU attended the opening ceremony including playing teams and representatives from AMA University, City University of Pasay, Enderun Colleges, Holy Angel University, Manuel L. Quezon University, New Era University, Philippine Christian University, University of Makati, St. Clare College of Coloocan, and of course, Our Lady of Fatima University.
Preceding the preliminary basketball games was the presentation of muses from each university where Ellysa Beatriz Diaz, a Psychology major of OLFU Antipolo Campus, was named Miss NAASCU 2023 First Runner-Up.
Key personalities graced the opening including NAASCU Secretary-General Atty. Jay Andalem and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, among others.
Tournament proper
For the pilot match, the team of Our Lady of Fatima University that was down by ten points in the first half of the game went head-to-head against Enderun Colleges, presenting them with a stern yet attainable challenge.
The OLFU Phoenix Men’s Basketball Team is composed of Ken Loyola (11), Edward Labayen (5), Danzel Gomez (19), Charles Tecson (77), Ace Rusell Tiamzon (2), Andrei Romero (0), Rodman Templonuevo (41), Marvel Jimenez (7), Carle Jeicel Torres (15), Lee Harvey Suelto (34), Gab Gotera (4), Mamadou Torre (14), Edler John Pastrana (27), Kobi Davis (9), Christopher John Tolentino (6), and Charles Dela Cruz (91).
From the get go, OLFU struggled to defend their court as the Enderun Titans played at full speed, complemented with an established early offence. The first quarter easily concluded with a score of 18-11 in favor of the Taguig-based university.
In between timeouts, while determined with a strategic game plan, Phoenix Head Coach Ralph Emerson Rivera slammed the team for the “tentative” and “soft” shots, some even resulting in barren airballs. The coach then demanded that OLFU Phoenix show their aggression in the game.
At the end of the second quarter, Enderun still ruled with a widened ten-point gap, 34-24, overthrowing the OLFU Phoenix.
The hostile standing rather strengthened the resolve of the Fatima team who would later fire up in the last two quarters of the preliminary game.
Leading the third quarter for OLFU Phoenix were Jimenez, Romero, Labayen, Tiamzon, and Toure who played an intense quarter, challenging the unveiled skills of the opposition.
With an almost level score standing of 46-44 still in favor of Enderun Titans, OLFU Phoenix managed to stay in the game; this time, catching the opponents by surprise.
Assessing the “good quarter,” Coach Rivera credited the aggression of OLFU Phoenix, destroying the opponent with the employed “upward pressure” during the quarter.
The final quarter showcased a neck to neck game between two teams, even recording an all-50 score, in the last four minutes of the game.
As a result, OLFU Phoenix emerged victorious against Enderun Titans with a final score of 58-53, as the team rose from the ashes, sustaining their unwavering power after the first two quarters.
With 20 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists – a double-double performance – Mamadou Torre (14) was hailed as the best player of the game.
In an interview, Toure acknowledged the hard work of their coaches who pushed them harder to stay in the game and rely on the tactic laid-out for team— despite launching a rough start.
The five-point victory was dedicated to the team’s Coach Rivera and his assistant coaches— Don Villamin, Christian Coronel, and Mario Gotera— as well as to the team’s strength and conditioning coach, Bryan Tupino, and to the team’s utility, John Calderon.
Yet again, the brand-new season of NAASCU puts an emphasis on the skills, dedication and hard work of student-athletes, taking pride as one of the country’s leading producers of national and international sports aces.
The online broadcast of NAASCU Season 21 games can be viewed on the official NAASCU FB Page.
Season Update:
As of November 10th, OLFU Phoenix remains undefeated through six games— toppling Enderun, New Era, UMAK, City University of Pasay, PCU, and AMA. – Raymond Lumagsao
