ILOILO CITY – More than 3,000 athletes, coaches, staff, and officials converged for the 2024 Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Sports Festival hosted by the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology.
THE softball team of the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology prepares for their game in the 2024 Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Sports Festival on Monday, Dec. 16. (ISUFST)
“This is a historic milestone for ISUFST. Although we were originally set to host in 2019, challenges delayed this dream. Now, we’re finally ready to welcome everyone to this historic event,” said ISUFST Dr. Nordy Siason Jr. during the opening ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 15.
Delegates are from the 13 State Colleges and Universities in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces a well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
Organizers said this year’s edition may be the last time SUCs from Negros Occidental are competing as there may be a separate sports festival once the Negros Island Region (NIR) is fully implemented.
Events are being held in Barotac Nuevo town, where the main campus of ISUFST is located, Iloilo Sports Complex here, and Passi City.
Among the guests during the opening were Sen. Francis Tolentino, House Deputy Speaker Camille A. Villar, Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., Iloilo Rep. Ferj Biron, Commission on Higher Education-6 Regional Director Dr. Raul Alvarez Jr., and Dr. Bobby Gerardo, chairman of the Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges-6.
Alexie Mae Brooks, a national athlete-turned-beauty queen, delivered a message to the athletes.