CEBU, acknowledged as the ‘Sports Capital’ in the Visayas, will be the host of the second Asia Pacific University Games scheduled Dec.6-11 at the Cebu Coliseum.
Three countries—China, Malaysia and host Philippines—will participate in four sports during the six-day competition organized by the Asia Pacific University Sports Union, in cooperation with the Cebu City government and Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.
At stake are gold medals in four sports—basketball (basketball), badminton (men and women), tennis (men) and table tennis (men and women).
China will be represented by Jiangxi Pingxiang College and Malaysia will be bannered by Universiti Teknologi MARA.
University of San Jose Recoletos will represent the country in basketball.
“We are doing everything to ensure the success of this biennial competition, which Cebu is hosting for the second straight time,” said APUSU president Alvin Tai Lian of the Philippines.
Tai Lian and APUSU secretary general Mustaza Ahmad of Malaysia lauded the organizing committee, headed by Atty. Baldomero Estenzo of University of Cebu and Prof. Robert Milton Calo, for bringing the APUG back to Cebu for the second time in three years.
Atty. Estenzo and Prof. Calo have been appointed as chairman and deputy chairman of APYG, respectively.
The other members of the organizing committee are secretary Cecil Sarmiento, Jessica Honoridez, Gil Reglo, Fructuso Raytos and Cherrylyn Raytos.
USJR is fresh from a third-place finish in the 3rd Xiamen Collegiate Basketball Tournament in Xiamen City, China last Nov. 4.
The team will be led by veteran coach Jun Noel.
Supervising the basketball competition is the Basketball Association of the Philippines.
Malaysia will be represented by UiRM Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Prof. Dato’ Abdullah Mohamad Said and APUSU secretary general and UiTM sports director Mustafa Ahmad.
Joining them are head of the delegation Dr. Mohd Bahrin Othman and UiTM head of team management Mugammad Syahir Radyidi Haji Saad.
Japan, represented by Nippon Sport Science University, ruled the first APUG basketball event held in 2015.