The ISAA leadership under Melai Florentino aims for bigger things in its 8th season. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
DEFENDING champion PATTS College of Aeronautics starts its title-retention campaign against dangerous La Consolacion College-Manila at the opening Tuesday of the Redfox Technologies-sponsored 8th Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association at the Mall of Asia Arena.
An estimated jampacked crowd of more than 10,000 students and officials are expected to witness the colorful and meaningful opening ceremonies spearheaded by host St. Dominic College of Asia.
Gametime between the PATTS Seahorses and the Blue Royals of Mendiola is 10 a.m. following the opening ceremonies to be graced by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al S.Panlilio and other celebrities from the entertainment world.
Dr. Jojo Andaman, president of host SDCA,will make the welcome remarks, while ISAA president Melanie Florentino of Feati University will introduce the guest speaker.
The award-winning Philippine Merchant Marine School Dance Group will delight the crowd while SDCA’s Kulayawan Festival and Red in Motion will thrill the fans with fiesta-like performances.
ISAA board member Ruel Dela Rosa of Manila Tytana College will declare the Games open after the oath of sportsmanship to be administered by PATTS’s enforcer JP Manansala,who was picked Most Valuable Player last season.
Fans will be also be delighted by the battle of the muses. Singer Val John will serenade the new Miss ISAA.
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 Florentino.
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.
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, Manila Tytana Colleges and La Consolacion College-Manila Chorale will also participate in the opening ceremonies.
The ISAA hymn composed of ISAA business manager Raul Santos of Philippine Women’s University will be sung at the start of the ceremonies.
SDCA battles Manila Tytana Colleges at 12 noon, while the lone senior high tussle between MTC and La Consolacion College-Manila will happen 1:30 p.m. The final game is between Feati University and PWU.
Pipo Onrubia of PMMS is league vice-president, while treasurer is SDCA’s Jonathan Sta. Ana. Secretary is Jae delos Santos of Manila Tytana Colleges PRO is Andie Cristobal of La Consolacion College-Manila and auditor is Marlon Asuque of PMMS. Board members are Benjie Hernandez of PATTS and Antonio Giron of Manila Adventist Medical Center and Colleges.