Joe Lipa appointed UAAP basketball commissioner

MANILA, Philippines – Joe Lipa was appointed by the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) board as this year's commissioner for basketball competitions during the league's board meeting on Wednesday at the Far Eastern University. Lipa will take over the job of Chito Narvasa, who presided over the league's basketball matches last season. Previously, Lipa served as commissioner of the UAAP's rival collegiate league, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Tapped by the UAAP board to help Lipa in enforcing league rules are referees from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Basketball League and BRASCO. The country's premier collegiate league is set to open its 2009-2010 season on July 11 with University of Santo Tomas meeting Adamson University in the first match followed by the tussle between De La Salle University and University of the East. The next day, July 12, University of the Philippines will take on National University followed by the face-off between defending champion Ateneo de Manila University and this year's host FEU. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV