The 10th National University Games kicks off at 6:30 p.m. today at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

About 1,500 athletes and officials from the 39 competing schools all over the country are expected to attend the opening ceremonies that will be keynoted by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez.

Rep. Monico Puentevella, co-chairman of the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, and USLS president Bro. Gus Boquer will give welcome messages. UNI Games founding chairperson Bro. Rolando Dizon will also be one of the guests in the opening rites that will be highlighted by performances from the Pasalamat Dancers and Drumbeaters, and the USLS Pep Squad.

The oath of sportsmanship will be conducted through a video presentation, technical secretariat head Malot Lozada said, adding that all members of the delegation need to attend the opening ceremonies.

Games will be held before the opening rites as defending champion USLS will start its title-run in the men's division when it tackles the Silliman University booters at 8:30 a.m. at the La Salle football field.

The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos booters will face Xavier University at 10 a.m., before reigning NOPSSCEA titlist West Negros College takes on Ateneo de Davao University at 1:30 p.m.

The other match in men's play is between Far Eastern University and John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Iloilo at 3 p.m., while La Salle battles SU at 7 a.m. in the women's category.

In basketball, Negros Oriental State University collides with Iloilo Doctor's College at 7:30 a.m., before host USLS Stingers clashes with University of Northern Philippines at 9 a.m. at the La Salle Coliseum.

Ateneo de Manila University faces Holy Angel University at 10:30 a.m. in the women's division as XU plays University of Iloilo at 12 p.m.

Games at the NGV Gym in Silay City, all in the women's side, will see University of San Agustin tackling SU; University of Mindanao battling FEU; Adamson University taking on St. Louis University, and RP team colliding with the University of Asia and the Pacific cagebelles.

The Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School will host the men's division matches between six-time NOPSSCEA champion WNC and UI; Foundation University against St. Francis of Assisi College System; De La Salle University-Dasmarinas versus Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion, and Western Mindanao State University against SU.

UNI Games secretary-general Roger Banzuela said he expects to discover new talents to play for the RP teams in the future during the national event that ends on Nov. 29.

Most of the spikers in the men and women's RP indoor volleyball squads were scouted in the past UNI Games, Banzuela, who also serves as the Philippine Volleyball Federation president, said.

The UNI Games is a grassroots development program that is adopted by the PSC, he added.

FEU, which emerged as the winningest school last year, will defend its men's basketball crown, while DLSU aims to preserve its women's football and volleyball titles.

The University of the East jins eyes back-to-back championships in men's taekwondo. *CIT

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