THE Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association (Nopsscea) chose Gilas Pilipinas guard Kiefer Ravena and Perlas Lady Spikers' Alyssa Valdez as guests in the opening of its 37th Season Saturday at the STI West Negros University in Bacolod City.
Ravena is part of the Philippine basketball team that won the country's 17th gold medal in the recent 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
In March, he was also signed up by Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League and suited up for the Texas Legends during the 2016 NBA D-League.
The 23-year-old playmaker is also part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool preparing for the 2017 Fiba Asia Champions Cup scheduled later this month in China.
Meanwhile, the hard hitting Valdez has been the game-changer of Philippine women's volleyball. Aside from playing in the domestic league, she also suited up to Thai club 3BB Nakornnont as an import last year, and just signed up for the Attack Line in Chinese Taipei.
Torch-lighting rites was led by Bacolod Tay Tung High School's Kiana Marie Alagaban, 2017 Palarong Pambansa gold medalist in gymnastics; La Consolacion College-Bacolod's Timothy Concon, 2017 Regional Meet gold medalist in swimming; and University of St. La Salle's Christian Marcelino, member of the 2017 National Prisaa men's volleyball gold medalist.
Nopsscea president Dr. Ervie Emelda Gallespen of Riverside College delivered the welcome remarks followed by the hoisting of the association's banner by the members of the Nopsscea Board.
Participating schools this season are host STI West Negros University, Asian College of Aeronautics Inc., Bacolod Adventist Elementary School, Bacolod Christian College of Negros, Bacolod Tay Tung High School, Bright Kids Preschool, Brookside Garden Academy, Castleson High/JJS-City Heights, Christian Academy of Bacolod, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Colegio San Nicolas de Tolentino-Recoletos, Destiny Christian Academy, Don Bosco Technical Institute and Eliakim Learning Center.
Other participants are Evangelical Christian Montessori School, Fountain Valley Christian School, Happy Tots Christian School, Happy Tots Christian School II, Holy Family High School-Bacolod, House of Praise Learning Center, J.O.Y. Christian School, Jack and Jill-Homesite, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation, La Consolacion College-Bacolod, La Consolacion College-Murcia, La Consolacion College-Gardenville, Lamblight Catholic School, Living Stones International School, and Mansilingan Christian Academy.
Also seeing action are Maranatha Christian Academy, Maranatha Christian College, Megumi Academy, Nazareth Institute, Negros Mission Academy, North Negros College, Northside Christian Academy, Notre Dame of Talisay, Prestige Comprehensive School, Queen of Peace School, Riverside College, Sacred Heart Seminary-Bacolod, Scola Guadalupana, Silay Institute, and South Hills Academy.
Completing the list are Southland College, St. Benilde School, St. Carmen Salles School, St. Francis of Assisi School, St. John's Institute, St. Joseph School-La Salle, St. Rose of Lima School, St. Scholastica's Academy, St. Sebastian International School, St. Teresita's Academy, Tangub Christian Academy, Trinity Christian School, Twin Stars Learning Center, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle, and VMA Global College.
