The Tarlac State University Alumni Association, Inc. and the Office of Alumni Affairs concluded the first season of the Inter-Alumni Basketball League with an exhibition game and the awarding of alumni scholars on Friday evening (January 24) at the TSU Gymnasium.
Aimed to foster alumni engagement, promote sports development, and raise funds for alumni scholars, the basketball league, which began on November 10, was initiated by TSUAAI President Hon. Reynaldo L. Catacutan.
"One of the goals of this tournament is to bring back our graduates – our alumnus and alumna – here in TSU para at least 'yung camaraderie and love for the state university ay hindi maalis. 'Yung pabalik-balik sila dito ay it brings back old memories,” Hon. Catacutan said.
To officially mark the end of the first season, the TSUAAI Board of Directors played an exhibition game against some members of the university's administrative council, with the latter emerging as champions in a close 58-54 match.
Student-athletes Michael Vincent A. Celon from the College of Business and Accountancy and Jim Matthew R. Salas from the College of Public Administration and Governance were the first scholars to receive 5,000 pesos each from this initiative.
Both members of the TSU volleyball team will also serve as the TSUAAI's scholars until they graduate with the funds saved from the basketball tournament, which will now take place every year.
Afterwards, the awarding ceremony for the league's first season also took place with Team Norism hailed as the champion in the senior division and the Team Alumnus claiming the title in the open division.
According to Hon. Catacutan and OAA Director Dr. Winston F. Abalos, both offices are planning to host different sports events, such as volleyball, futsal, badminton, tennis, and golf, for the TSU alumni to enjoy. (jlmm-OPA)
Inter-Alumni Basketball League Season 1 awards:
Senior Division
First runner-up: Team Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA)
Champion: Team Norism
Senior Division Mythical Five
Bonifacio, Mark
Enriquez, Jun – Most Valuable Player
Lumba, Arnold
Reyes, Miguel
Romeo Valencia, Jr.
Paras, Luis – Most Defensive Player
Open Division
First runner-up: Team Avengers
Champion: Team Alumnus
Open Division Mythical Five
De Vera, Sherwin
Espiritu, Nelmar
Lavetoria, Edgar C.
Limiac, Neil Clark M. – Most Valuable Player
Llabres, Kevin Jay
Dela Rosa, Dexter – Most Defensive Player
