MANILA, Philippines - This year’s Philippine University Games or UniGames set Oct. 22 to 29 in Roxas City, Capiz will be a showcase of the finest student athletes in the country.
It will also give the Philippine Sports Commission, the government’s funding arm in sports, a chance to discover and identify future members of the national pool.
“The PSC is playing a more active role in the UniGames as part of our grassroots development program,” said PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez during yesterday’s PSA Forum.
“It will allow us to see athletic talent among the youth, and act on their development during their formative years,” added the PSC commissioner.
He said this year’s edition promises to be bigger than the previous ones with at least 46 universities to be represented by more than 4,000 students on hand.
They will vie in 14 sports disciplines, including athletics, basketball, football, lawn tennis, swimming, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, beach volleyball, sepak takraw and billiards.
Gomez said billiards is the newest sport in the UniGames calendar.
Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion will host the games with venues almost walking distance to one another, according to Gomez.
“Roxas City is all out in hosting the event. They even put up new hotels,” said the PSC commissioner.
Among the competing universities include Ateneo, La Salle, University of the Philippines, Adamson, NU, Santo Tomas, UE, San Beda and FEU.
“It will also give those from the provinces a chance to gauge their programs against these elite schools from the UAAP or the NCAA,” Gomez added.
Also sending their best bets are Ateneo de Davao, Holy Angel University, Foundation U, Mindanao State U, Negros Occ. State U, University of San Carlos, University of St. La Salle, University of San Agustin and West Negros, among others.