Dysam shooting a 'wake-up call' for schools, collegiate leagues, says Naascu chief

THE recent shooting incident involving Letran back-up guard Franz Dysam should serve as wake-up call for schools and collegiate leagues in the country to always prioritize the security of its students.

Dr. Jay Adalem, president of St. Clare College and treasurer of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), stressed this point as he encouraged schools to be vigilant as far as the safety of its students is concerned.

“The security of the students is always our No. 1 concern. Ang karapatan kasi ng estudyante ay napakalaki,” said Adalem during the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday.

“Kahit na `yung outside activities nila (students), dapat parang nasa loob pa rin sila ng eskuwelahan. In the same manner na pag nasa field trip din sila, di ba you make sure about the safety of the students kung saan man sila pupunta.”

In the company of his girlfriend Joan Sordan, Dysam was ambushed Saturday evening while on his way home following Letran’s NCAA men’s basketball game against Lyceum at The Arena in San Juan. The 24-year-old cager suffered six gunshot wounds, but Sordan was killed by a single bullet.

Dysam underwent an operation last Monday where four bullets were removed from his body.

Adalem wishes Dysam a speedy recovery, even as he encourages all collegiate leagues to be on guard especially as far as safety of its students is concerned, including the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu), whose 13th season will formally kick off on August 13 at the Makati Coliseum.

“Ang concept kasi ng college basketball dito sa bansa parang professional na rin. Kaya dapat ang mga eskuwelahan talagang babantayan ang seguridad ng kanilang mga estudyante,” said Adalem, also the chairman of Naascu.

Defending champion St. Clare will be hard-pressed to repeat as men’s basketball champion as gunners Jeff Viernes and Eugene Torres are no longer around when the Saints open the season against Centro Escolar College.

The 11 a.m. tussle between the reigning champions and Scorpions kicks off a heavy triple-header and serves as rematch of last year’s title series which the Saints won via a sweep, 2-0.

Host school Fatima University then tangles with City University of Pasay in the second game at 1 p.m., followed by the match pitting Rizal Technological University versus New Era University at 3 p.m.

A total of nine teams will be part of the league this season as former members University of Makati and Lyceum of Subic Bay are set to return, while Polytechnic University of the Philippines make its debut in the league.

The centerpiece event of basketball will be the only sport to be played in the first semester, while the rest are going to be held in the second semester, among them track and field, taekwondo, swimming, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess, handball, cheerdance, and billiards.

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