IF THERE’S one legacy that the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) can boast of, it’s the fact that it has become a breeding ground of future basketball stars and coaches.
The list is quite impressive: Rich Alvarez, Don Allado, Ren Ren Ritualo, Dwight Lago, Elmer Lago, Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo, Ervin Sotto, Francis Adriano, Junnel Mendiola, Mark Pingres, Gary David, Joey Mente, Frederick Canlas, Dino Aldeguer, Willie Wilson and Warren Ybanez, among others, who either began their careers in the league or used it to further sharpen their skills.
Even some of today’s best bench tacticians began strutting their stuff in the NCRAA, namely Koy Banal, Boysie Zamar, Jing Ruiz, Leo Austria and Gabby Velasco.
"That is the thing which we are extremely proud of – that we, in the NCRAA, one way or the other, helped shape the careers of these fine, young basketball players and coaches into what they are now – respected and highly regarded in the field of basketball," said Tisha Abundo, who was once again voted president of the country’s biggest school-based athletic association, with over half a million students in membership.
The quest to discover and hone athletic talents for future national team and professional league consumption doesn’t stop here, vowed Abundo, who this early is preparing for a grand start to the league’s 13th season, which begins Jan. 13 next year.
"Somewhere in our 13 school membership are the future Ritualos, De Ocampos, Austrias and Banals, waiting for the opportune time to blossom. The NCRAA will provide them that avenue to really soar into the limelight," said Abundo, who served as honorary president of the NCRAA from 1998 to 2000 due to her stint as Commissioner of the PSC.
Teddy C. Talens of Olivarez College was voted Vice President of the NCRAA while Benjamin Hernandez of PATTS College of Aeronautics was chosen Secretary. Other key officials are treasurer Rewel J. Santural (AMA Computer College), auditor Nomar A. Isla (of host school Emilio Aguinaldo College) and PRO Jun T. Quinio (National College of Business and Arts).
Other member schools of the NCRAA are Arellano University, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Philippine Maritime College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Saint Francis of Assisi and new league members City College of Manila and Asian College of Science and Technology.
"We expect only the most competitive teams displaying their skills in the coming season as all the teams have vowed to live up to the high level of competition that has always been a trademark of the NCRAA."
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