After three decades, UPLB and the Central Luzon State University
(CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija have again come together to hold what once was an
annual event, the UPLBCLSU
Friendship
Games.
The Friendship Games, held on Oct. 24-26 at the CLSU campus, saw the
dominance of UPLB in the faculty and staff category at 140-80 points, with wins
in bowling, badminton, basketball, and softball divisions. However, CLSU
clobbered UPLB in the varsity category games, garnering a total of 340 points
as against UPLB’s 180 points.
The Friendship Games is a revival of the two state universities’
annual dual meet that goes back to the early ‘80s.
In his speech during the opening ceremony held at the CLSU grandstand,
Vice Chancellor for Planning and
Development Fernando V. Sanchez, Jr. said that the pursuit of excellence
should be the guiding light in all that we do as we push our standards of
quality to even greater heights.
Dr. Sanchez said that the games bring about the spirit of camaraderie
and sportsmanship between UPLB and CLSU.
He reminded the participants about sportsmanship quoting former WNBA
player Sue Wicks: “Sportsmanship knows that (this) is a game, that we are only
as good as our opponents, and whether you win or lose, to always give 100
percent.”
According to the UPLB Sports and Recreation Committee, which oversees
the University’s sports program, the Friendship Games help the UPLB varsity
teams to prepare for other sports competitions of the State Colleges and
Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA). (KE
Araguas with reports from Rueth Cabral of the College of Public Affairs and Development)
