(from left to right) ISAA officials at PSA Forum: Delos Santos, Santos, Dimalanta, Florentino, Sta. Ana, Cristobal, Hernandez.
Though small compared with the likes of the UAAP and NCAA, the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association, now on its 8th season, wants to to carve its own niche in the topsy-turvy world of collegiate sports.
‘‘We’re getting bigger and stronger. We will have the same fun and colorful opening ceremonies and the same action-packed games. But we will not change our direction of putting premium on academics,’’ said ISAA president Melanie Florentino of Feati University during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Florentino, who is also a Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas official, stressed that ISAA members schools will never allow an athletes with failing grades to see action in the league.
‘‘What we have are volunteer-athletes.It’s about school-pride,’’ Florentino said.
Host St. Dominic College of Asia, represented by ISAA treasurer Jonathan Sta. Ana and board member Josie Dimalanta will lead the fiesta-like opening ceremonies 9 a.m. on September 6, Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. SDCA’s award-winning Kulayawan Festival and Red in Motion will delight the fans which are expected to top the 10,000 mark.
This year’s theme is ‘‘Walong Taon na PagkakaISAA para sa Kabataang Atleta.’’ Aside from the dances which will come after the traditional parade of the competing teams, Sta.Ana said Manila Tytana Colleges and La Consolacion College-Manila Chorale will also participate in the opening ceremonies.
Also to be selected is Miss ISAA 2016 who will be serenaded by Val John.
SDCA President Greg Andaman will give the welcome remarks, while Ruel dela Rosa of MTC will declare the season open. Basketball MVP John Paul Manansala of PATTS will lead the oath of sportsmanship.
Also in the Forum were ISAA secretary Jae delos Santos of Manila Tytana Colleges, business manager Raul Santos of Philippine Women’s University and PRO Andie Cristobal of La Consolacion College-Manila. Also present were board members Benjie Hernandez of PATTS and Antonio Giron of Manila Adventist Medical Center and Colleges.
Crispulo ‘‘Pipo’’Onrubia and Marlon Asuque of Philippine Merchant Marine School are the league vice-president and auditor, respectively.
PATTS College of Aeronautics will open its defense of the basketball crown against rival La Consolacion College-Manila at 10 a.m.followed by another equally exciting match between host St. Dominic College of Asia and Manila Tytana Colleges 12 noon.
Feati U tackles Philippine Women’s University at 3 p.m. after the lone senior high school ballgame between Manila Tytata and LCC-M.
‘‘We’re ready to defend our title,’’ said Hernandez. ‘‘The team has been training rigorously under coach Lency(Aransazo).’’ PATTS wore down PWU in last year’s best-of-three title series at the Makati Coliseum.
Florentino said the ISAA hopes to help the country in the near future as it searches for Olympic glory.
On top of men’s basketball, men and women’s volleyball, swimming, badminton and table tennis, the ISAA added bowling and futsal to its calendar.
‘‘We are also awarding for the first time the overall champion,’’ Florentino added.
Sta. Ana, also SDCA’s Department of Student Affairs and Services Director, said aside from sporting excellence, the ISAA prides itself of finding and nurturing talented students not only in sports and arts.
ISAA has its annual chorale competitions among its members and has lined up various activities designed to foster camaraderie among the students and strengthen the bond between the officials.