INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Joe Lipa is back yet again in the UAAP, where defending champion Ateneo opens its title defense against host Far Eastern U in the opening weekend of the 72nd edition of the country?s premiere collegiate tournament.

The UAAP board on Wednesday unanimously approved Lipa?s return as basketball commissioner, a post the many-time national team mentor also held during the 68th season in 2005.

?Joe is very qualified because he has shown that he can handle the job without any hint of bias or dishonor,? UAAP president Anton Montinola of FEU said.

The 72nd season of the UAAP opens on July 11 with University of Santo Tomas, overall champion for the past 11 years, taking on Adamson at 2 p.m., followed by the De La Salle-University of the East clash at 4 p.m.

UP debuts the following day against National U at 2 p.m. Ateneo and FEU collide at 4 p.m.