La Salle Green Archers, CSB Blazers lend facilities to the homeless

MANILA, Philippines -- De La Salle University's Enrique Razon Sports Complex is best known as the training facility for their sports teams, and has hosted many UAAP events.

The covered courts of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB), meanwhile, is the stomping grounds of the Blazers.

In the face of the crisis, however, both venues have been transformed into shelters for the homeless amidst the enhanced community quarantine that is currently in place in Metro Manila. 

Both schools are working with the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center in providing a haven for the less fortunate.

"The AJ Kalinga Center is serving the homeless regularly. Their main ministry is providing food and free showers for the homeless," said La Salle's vice president for Lasallian mission Fritzie De Vera.

"But now that we are under quarantine, they are looking for shelters for them. They worked with several schools to give them a safe space during the community quarantine."


As of Monday, there are 79 guests staying at Razon, and 80 in the CSB covered courts. Nearby St. Scholastica College in Manila also houses a number of guests.

There are volunteers from AJ Kalinga Center handling the guests on all sites.

To provide for the daily needs of the guests and the volunteers, the school is asking for donations either in kind or in cash.

"We are requesting for donations in kind or in cash. For donations in kind, we would appreciate cooked meals for them. The center is also providing meals which they get from the cash donations. We provide three meals a day," De Vera said.

Many have responded including a couple of donors who provided mattresses and protective gear, Chooks-to-Go who provided 50 packs of chicken for them, and La Salle's student government who provided vitamins which will last for 14 days.

In urgent need for the guests are pillows; two industrial rice cookers; two percolators for coffee; packs of garbage bags; medicines for first aid; small bath towels; clothes for men, women, and children; toiletries; and alcohol.

Donations are accepted through:

Cash donations can be deposited to the ff:

1) AJ KALINGA FOUNDATION INC.
 ASIA UNITED BANK 
 PESO SAVINGS ACCOUNT NO. 082-11-000496-2

2) PayPal 
 info@ajkalingafoundation.org

3) BPI (Congressional Road Branch)
 Savings Account No. 1959-3450-46

The Philippines has reported 501 cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, with 33 fatalities.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

La Salle lights up blue after UAAP loss to Ateneo

After suffering a loss to their arch rival Ateneo de Manila University, the De La Salle University community showed graciousness in defeat last night, as it lit the facade of the university’s iconic St. La Salle Hall blue.

The Green Archers suffered a heartbreaking loss in the men’s basketball tournament to their rivals, who snatched from them what would have been their second successive title.

In a remarkably well-fought game that featured seven deadlocks and seven lead changes, the Blue Eagles fended off the Green Archers, 88-86, in the do-or-die Game 3 of the best-of-three finals to dethrone their rivals and annex the UAAP crown.

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It was Ateneo’s first UAAP title since Season 75, when they won the last of five consecutive championships.

The act of sportsmanship was seen in a photo shared on Facebook by The LaSallian, the university’s paper.

What did you think of last night’s game? Tweet us @CoconutsManila or comment below!

with a report from ABS-CBN News

source: coconuts.co/manila

Van Opstal doubtful for La Salle's PCCL opener

MANILA, Philippines – Center Arnold Van Opstal may not be able to suit up for UAAP champions De La Salle in their first game of the 2013 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) against the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras on Monday.

The Green Archers, already seeded in the Final Four of the tournament after winning the UAAP crown, will take on the Southern champions in the first game of the round-robin semi-finals.

But they may have to do so without Van Opstal, who suffered an injury in practice and is considered day-to-day.

“He got bumped or hit by (fellow La Salle big man) Norbert (Torres) in his hip, so he’s recovering from that,” said DLSU head coach Juno Sauler. “He’s day-to-day.”

Van Opstal did not participate in Saturday’s charity game, “Champions for a Cause,” against NCAA champions San Beda – much to the disappointment of Red Lions center Ola Adeogun.

“I was looking forward to my match-up with Van Opstal, but he didn’t play in the game,” said Adeogun. “So maybe next time.”

San Beda and La Salle will face off again on Thursday, December 12 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras picks La Salle over UP, report says

MANILA – And the good news continues to pour in for UAAP champions De La Salle Green Archers after the prized high-school player Kobe Paras has committed to play for the team when he enters college in two years, according to a report Tuesday.

In a report by Snow Badua for the sports website Spin.ph, Paras, who currently plays for La Salle Greenhills in the NCAA, was quoted as saying that he is not inclined at the moment to play for his father Benjie Paras’ alma mater, the University of the Philippines, noting that his brother, Andre, is already with the Maroons.

“Hindi na siguro, andun naman na si kuya. So okay na 'yun, La Salle na lang ako,” he told Badua.

The six-foot-five Paras, who is this year’s World 3x3 slam dunk champion, was spotted at the victory party of the Green Archers last Saturday, where he was seen with businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, who is considered La Salle’s top sports patron.

“I’d be loyal kasi si Boss Danding pa 'yung tumutulong sa akin, so I’d be as loyal as possible,” Paras, who is currently a high school junior, told Spin.ph. “Malamang nga dun na ako. As of now, 'yun na muna siguro masasabi ko. I’m leaning towards that (playing for La Salle).”

Paras also told the website that he is excited to play with his idol, UAAP Finals MVP Jeron Teng.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com