Staying on track of their goal to win the NOPSSCEA title this year, the University of St. La Salle Stingers went home with the title after joining the 61st Araw Ng Liloy Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament in Zamboanga del Norte, early this week.

The Stingers blew away St. Joseph College of Sindangan, 70-49, during the championship to pocket the P30,000 cash prize.

Also seeing action in the tournament were University of Zamboanga, St. Joseph College-Sindangan, and College of St. Columban-Pagadian.

With the win in Zamboanga, Stingers’ head coach Eugene Opu-an is optimistic that the team will do well in the NOPSSCEA competition that is set to start next month.

Earlier, USLS placed second runner-up in the 1st LNA7 Inter-Collegiate Invitational Tournament held at the West Negros University Gym in Bacolod City.

The Stingers failed to advance to the finals after suffering back-to-back setbacks at the hands of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Rams and NOPSSCEA defending champion WNU Mustangs. UNO-R finished first runner-up in the LNA7 tournament while the Mustangs bagged the title.

Coach Opu-an said the loss in the pre-NOPSSCEA tournament exposed the Stingers’ need to fine-tune their plays and make necessary adjustments.

He said the team is under development and some key players from last year’s squad have graduated, while some opted out of the varsity pool.

Meanwhile, USLS Varsity Sports Office director Malot Lozada said the Stingers are ready for the NOPSSCEA season and she hopes that the win in Zamboanga will help strengthen their chances of winning the championship this year.*NAB

back to top

Stingers win inter-collegiate basketball title in Zamboanga
Bacoleña nat’l sprinter diagnosed with cancer