Grand Opening of the UAAP Season 72

UAAP season 72 opened at the Araneta Coliseum in a festive and colorful way showcasing the uniqueness of member-schools brought together by “Friendship, Excellence and Unity”, as stated at the opening rites by the host school president Dr. Lydia Echauz of FEU.

 

UAAP Board with FEU President Dr. Lydia Echauz

Among the notable persons seen in the sideline were US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, PSC chairman Harry Angping, representatives of UAAP participating schools, and a strong crowd of nearly 15,000. The said opening ceremony was the first-ever sporting event in the Philippines which was broadcasted in high definition through Sky Cable, although subscribers with HD boxes were the only one who had experienced its full feature.

After the extravagant production number, UAAP President Mr. Anton Montinola with FEU President Echauz awarded last season’s over-all champion University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers. The UAAP then honors National University’s Arline P. Royo for her loyal service to the league; and also the league paid its respect to UE Athletic Director and UAAP board for 20 years, Rolando Perez who died the night before the opening ceremony. He helped to uphold “the best interest of UE and the UAAP”, according to Anton Montinola. Meanwhile, FEU’s basketball team point guard Jens Knuttel led the oath of sportsmanship.

 

FEU’s Jens Knuttel leading the oath-taking with Enchong Dee and Nonoy Baclao representing DLSU and Ateneo respectively.

In the opening match, UST Tigers pull off a one point win 76-75 over a resilient Adamson Soaring Falcons. While in the second game, The UE Red Warriors made an early upset to the La Salle Green Archers via a lopsided match-up 65-46, certainly not a good welcome for La Salle’s new assistant coach Dindo Pumaren, who just resigned last year as UE’s head coach for five UAAP seasons. Red Warriors’ new head coach, Lawrence Chongson said that their first win was inspiring and motivating however they wouldn’t dwell on such accomplishment as they would have more battles to win. “A win does not make a tournament”, added by Chongson. The games on Sunday will be University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons versus NU Bulldogs at 2pm and a huge match-up between the defending champion, Ateneo up against the host Far Eastern University.