Ucaa toasts 3 Gilas aces; league opens Saturday

THREE Gilas Pilipinas standouts who used to play in the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association will be honored by the league when it opens its 12th season on Saturday at Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text, Gary David of Globalport, and Mark Pingris of San Mig Coffee once played for Ucaa teams.

De Ocampo played for St. Francis, David saw action for Lyceum, and Pingris suited up for the Jaguars of 12th-season host Philippine School of Business Administration.

Four games will touch off hostilities in the basketball tournament, Ucaa president Tisha Abundo said in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Abundo was accompanied to the weekly sports session by Cesar Hagos of Olivarez College, Michael Lao of the Philippine Nautical Training College, Noraida Larosa of Rizal Technological University, Jun Quino of the National College of Business and Arts, basketball commissioner George Magsino, and volleyball commissioner Butch Montinola.

Nine schools will take part in the league with PSBA battling NCBA in the opener at 10 a.m.