UST-Legazpi, Bicol University, other venues ready for PRISAA National Games 2024

The University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi and Bicol University are among the venues of the Private Schools Athletic Association National Games come  July in Legazpi City.

PRISAA President Edgar Balasta revealed the roster of venues for matches, which would take place from July 20 to 26 in Legazpi City.

The University of Santo Tomas campus in Legazpi City would host the gymnastics events and some volleyball, beach volleyball, and basketball games. Bicol University opened its venues to badminton, swimming,  football, and athletics events. Divine Word College–Legazpi City would open its venues to chess and some of the volleyball games.

Taekwondo matches would be at SM Legazpi. Ayala Mall would host the billiards tournaments. Karatedo would be at the Gaisano Mall. Some basketball games will be played at the Daraga Park Covered Court and the Daraga Covered  Court, while the tennis matches will be at Lignon Hill, Camp Ola in  Sipi, Daraga.

Dancesport and the PRISAAYAWAN will be staged at the Legazpi City Convention Center, while table tennis will be at the  Legazpi Expo Center. Archery, baseball, and softball will take place at the Lidong Mayon Volcano Riviera open field.

SMART  Communications has committed to supporting the National PRISAA Games. The  Smart  Infocast System will be used for automated dissemination of  PRISAA schedules, announcements, and results of games.

The same system will also be used for the SMART Texter's Choice Award in  Mutya ng PRISAA. SMART with PLDT will also help provide access to the internet in the different playing venues for live streaming of sports events and activities.

The games are the annual culminating competitions of the student-athletes from PRISAA member colleges and senior high schools nationwide. Some 10,000 student-athletes and officials are expected to converge in Legazpi City for the games.

“Every staging of the PRISAA National Games is a reaffirmation of our commitment to grassroots sports and holistic youth development. This year’s competitions were earlier scheduled for July 13 to 20, but we deemed it necessary to adjust the timetable because of recent changes to the Department of Education school calendar and to give way to the  Palarong Pambansa that will take place in Cebu from July 6 to 17,”  PRISAA National Chairman Fr. Vicente Uy said.

Fr. Uy also said the memorandum of agreement between the Philippine Sports Commission and PRISAA “has been bearing good fruit through programs on  Certification Courses for PRISAA coaches and technical officials, talent identification, and the Adopt an Athlete Initiative. These are  investments of PRISAA and PSC in the future of the student-athletes.”

“The staging of the games in Legazpi City is the culmination of preparations in progress for several months now. The PRISAA-PSC MOA was forged during the PRISAA National Congress last January 12 at the University of Santo Tomas – Legazpi. No less than PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann and  PSC Commissioner Edward Hayco were there,” Balasta noted. — DVM, GMA Integrated News