NAASCU champion St. Clare College of Caloocan begins a new chapter in its storied basketball program as it takes part in the first Gov. Luigi Villafuerte Cup basketball championship at the La Fuerte Sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur starting March 31.

The Saints, who made history by winning seven straight NAASCU championships from 2016 to 2024, will field an entirely new team as part of their preparations for the coming 2025 NAASCU season later this year.

The nucleus of last year’s champion team, led by 2024 Finals MVP Ahron Estacio and Senegalese center Babacar Ndong, will not be joining the team

But NAASCU president and St. Clare Vice President for Administration Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem and coach Jino Manansala assured fans and supporters that the team, now led by last year’s Rookie of the Year JB Lim, remains competitive.

A fomer UST Tiger Cub, Lim stepped up in a big way as he finished with seven points, six assists, and five rebounds in St. Clare’s 62-54 victory over Our Lady of Fatima University in the NAASCU finals last year.

The other holdovers are Klint Manzano, Aljohn Loyola, Leenard Desabelle and Lex Gazzingan.

Assisting Manansala on the bench is his father, PBA legend Jimmy Manansala.

Also seeing action in the week-long competition organized by Armstrong Philippines in cooperation with the Camarines Sur local government, headed by Gov. Villafuerte, are the Kuala Lumpur Hornbills of Malaysia, NCAA team University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and host CamSur Express.

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Robert Andaya