HOW time flies!
The multi-sports Quezon City Athletic Association (QCAA) league ushers in its 10th season on August 27, 1:00 p.m., with a pair of basketball games at the Trinity University of Asia gym.
Saint Bridget’s School opens defense of its Girl High School Division title when it takes on Kings Montessori School in the Season 10 opener.
The main dish on opening day will feature Saint Vincent School against Stella Maris College in the Boys High School Competitive Division.
Championships are at stake in the five basketball divisions – 12-and-under Boys Midgets, 14-and-under Boys Cadets, Girls High School, Boys High School Developmental and Boys High School Competitive.
A year ago, Saint Bridget’s School returned from a seven-year absence to stun perennial champion Angelicum College, 84-82, in the finals of the Girls High School Division. At the time, the Lady Roebucks of AC had been unbeaten in the tournament and were looking to snare their seventh consecutive championship. It was not to be as SBS’ energetic Nicole Aynera chalked up 34 points and heavily-built center Thea Tria flirted with a triple-double with 28 scores, 17 rebounds and eight assists along with two shot blocks to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
This offset a sterling performance by AC’s hardworking playmaker Claudine Santos, who collected 38 points, nine assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals in a losing cause.
There are five entries in the Girls High School Division this season. These are Miriam College, KMS, Jubilee Christian Academy, Angelicum College and Saint Bridget’s School.
In the Boys High School Competitive Division, nine teams are out to dethrone back-to-back titlist Sacred Heart Academy of Novaliches. These are Claret School, Siena College, Kings Montessori School, ICCS, MPS, Hope Christian Academy, Stella Maris College, Saint Vincent School and debuting QCAA participant Pace Academy.
Last year, the SHAN Bruins defeated Claret School, 79-74, in the one-game finals to romp away with their third championship in four seasons (the school took a leave in 2013). Frontliner Billshan Digno racked up 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Bruins to capture the MVP award in the BHS Competitive Division.
Meanwhile, eight teams are seeing action in the 12-and-under Boys Midgets Division, bannered by reigning kingpin Claret School, Ateneo Team A, Ateneo Team B, TSMS, Pace Academy, SHAN, JCA, and New Era University. Claret beat School of Saint Anthony, 62-58, to claim the title a year ago.
In the 14-and-under Boys Cadets Division, Stella Maris College seeks a second straight crown against an eight-team field that includes Jubilee Christian Academy, SPS, Saint Claire School, Siena College, Pace Academy, Hope Christian Academy and SHAN, which dropped a 74-68 decision to Stella Maris College in last year’s finals.
Nine teams are contesting the Boys High School Developmental crown vacated by 2015 champion Stella Maris College, which has moved up to the BHS Competitive Division competitions.
These are Community of Learners Foundation (COLF), SPSQC, TSMS, Foothills, Saint Claire School, New Era University, ICCS, JCSGO and Santo Nino School.
The 2016-17 QCAA Board of Directors is composed of Jasmes Sy, chairman; Lemwel Ortiz, president; Jordan Tolentino, vice president internal; Jovy Ong, vice president external; Joshua Buenaventura, secretary; and Julius Ronquillo and Visrael Valencia, auditors.
Other sports events in the QCAA calendar this season are women’s volleyball, taekwondo, chess, swimming and badminton.
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