|
FEATI University hosts Grand Opening Ceremony of the 2nd ISAA season and gets big Opening Day win
FEATI University staged an impressive opening ceremony and established itself as a team to beat on the hard court to open the 2nd season of the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association (ISAA) on July 23, 2010 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila.
“A Hard Act to Follow”
With the six other member-schools La Consolacion College Manila, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila Adventist Medical Center & College, Manila Doctor’s College, Philippine Women’s University and Southville International School and Colleges, students, faculty and fans of FEATI University trooped to the 7,000-seater stadium on a clear and sunny morning.
The drum and bugle corps and brass bands of the member schools vied to outdo each other with blaring and contagious percussion beats and rhythmic sounds to the accompaniment of cheers by the various pep squads, infecting the whole crowd with excitement throughout the ceremony and into the succeeding games.
Aptly chosen for the theme of this season, “Building Future Legends. Conquering New Heights”, a legend in his own right, one of the 25 Greatest Players of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), four-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awardee, and current B-Meg Derby Ace Team Manager, Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker Alvin Patrimonio shared some age-old wisdom on how legends are made.
“We shall never forget that in this battle for supremacy, we are still gentlemen, bound by the rules of sportsmanship, discipline, hard work and total commitment to the sport. We have our own ups and downs, championships won and lost. No matter what the outcome is, we still look forward to competing against the best of the best. Let this be our guiding principle not only in sports but in also in life. These are the stuff of how legends are made,” shared the former Purefoods TJ Giants Captain who is fondly called “Captain Lionheart” due to his ferocious defense and pouncing offense, even as he admitted that he almost always has cold feet when asked to deliver speeches.
FEATI University President Dr.-Ing. Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez administered the oath-taking of the 2nd season ISAA officers, with Atty. Jose Yayen, the Head of the Institutional Sports Development of La Consolacion College Manila as President, FEATI University Events and Promotions Head Melanie P. Florentino as Vice President, Antonio S. Giron, Athletics Coordinator of Manila Adventist Medical Center & Colleges as Secretary, Assistant Director for Student Affairs Ruel S. Dela Rosa of Manila Doctor’s College as Treasurer, Auditor Rea Celine Villa, Athletics Director of Southville International School and Colleges, and Board Members Mariele Benitez, Sports Director of Philippine Women’s University, Hercules Callanta, Athletics Director of Lyceum of the Philippines University, and Members of the Executive Committee Raul Santos, Sports Program Officer of Philippine Women’s University and Hector Estidola, Student Welfare Coordinator of Manila Doctor’s College.
Immediately before the formal opening of the second ISAA season, a tribute was given to the first President of ISAA, the late Coach Cayetano “Tanny” Gonzales. FEATI Men’s Basketball Head Coach Louie Gonzales was surprised and touched as he watched the audio visual presentation celebrating his father’s achievements and honoring his memory, even as he received Coach Tanny’s posthumous certificate of appreciation.
After the tribute, ISAA President Atty. Jose Yayen formally declared the 2nd ISAA season open. This was then followed by the ceremonial toss made by Guest of Honor Alvin Patrimonio and the ISAA officers.
Performances from the LPU Pep Squad, PWU Pep Squad and FEATI University Dance Troupe were thoroughly enjoyed and applauded by the enthusiastic crowd.
Three basketball matches were scheduled to follow, which included FEATI University versus Manila Doctor’s College, LPU against PWU, and Southville International School and Colleges playing against Manila Adventist Memorial Medical College.
FEATI dominates on the hard court
Although occasionally prone to inconsistency, the Sta. Cruz –based Seahawks, let their opponents know who was dominant in the game by leading from the middle of the first quarter to the end. The FEATInians won against Manila Doctors College, 76-70.
For almost all of the four quarters, the FEATinians scored the most, had ball possession longest and closed each quarter in the lead. As regards the inconsistencies, FEATI Men’s Basketball Head Coach Louie Gonzales cited lack of maturity and mental toughness as reasons for the slips of his rookie-laden team.
“Overall, we had control of the game. When we had a big lead, I tried putting in the rookies to expose them. Then MDC would cut into our lead. As rookies, they still have to mature and develop mental toughness, qualities we need to build up in them,” said Coach Louie in Filipino. Gonzales remains upbeat that with the brimming potential and on-going tedious training of his team, the Seahawks would be a formiddable team to beat come finals and future ISAA seasons.
He adds that though most of his players are new, they have delivered way past expectations as the team is already in the final four. Current group standings put LPU at the top, followed by La Consolacion College, PWU at the third spot and FEATI at fourth place. These four teams are going to have a shot at the title.
Among the many achieving rookies who have helped FEATI reach the semi-finals, Gonzales places his bet on rookie Gilbert Raza who he thinks will be the future of the Seahawks.
“When you look at Raza, you see a slim youth but he is a thinking forward. Even though he is not big compared to others, he still gets past the bigger defenders and delivers the points,” said Gonzales.
Other games during the opening ceremony featured LPU against PWU, with the former beating PWU, 91-86 and Southville pummeling Manila Adventist Medical College, 86-40.
The successful opening ceremony would have not been possible thanks to the support of Globe Tattoo, Malaya Business Insight, 100 PLUS, Summit Water and Star Sports Korea by Topph.com. As one, the ISAA Executive Committee and Officers said that this opening would be “a hard act to follow”. (KAL)
|
