Naascu powerhouse St. Clare College. –HANDOUT PHOTO
As St. Clare College stamped its class via record fashion in men’s basketball, the National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) gears up for a stronger season this year.
NAASCU president Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem said the league hopes to harness the best sporting talents outside the older collegiate leagues like the UAAP and the NCAA.
“Through the years we have shown that bigger leagues don’t necessarily mean bigger talents,” said Adalem who is also vice president of St. Clare.
READ: St. Clare pumped up to stretch Naascu reign
The Saints, under the watch of coach Jinino Manansala, recorded their historic seventh straight title, and eighth overall last season.
That had already eclipsed the feat of Naascu founding member University of Manila which had five championships in a row under the late mentor Ato Tolentino.
“It was all hardwork not only by the coaching staff but by the entire team as well,” said Manansala whose father, 1978 PBA rookie of the year Jimmy Manansala, provided help from the bench.
READ: 2 Naascu crowns for University of Manila cagers
Players from Naascu have been making contributions to professional leagues like the PBA and MPBL through players like Gio Jalalon Samboy de Leon, Chito Jaime and Alvin Abundo.
As a squad, St. Clare has had victories over top UAAP and NCAA teams during pre-season leagues.
This time, though, Adalem said Naascu wants to reach out to a wider audience via traditional and social media, and claim a spot as among the top collegiate leagues in the country.
St. Clare scored its come-from-behind victory over Our Lady of Fatima University recently after dropping Game 1 in their best-of-three championship series at the Novadeci Convention Center in Quezon City.
The Saints were led by Finals MVP Ahron Estacio and Rookie of the Year JB Lim.