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While the Mapua host launched his male basketball title, the NCAA also begins the demo of four Olympic sports – gymnastics, weightlifting, boxing and golf – in season 101
Manila, Philippines-The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) unveils its 101st season on Wednesday, October 1, starting with the basketball matches from last year at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning male basketball champion and the reception of the Mapua school will face the Lyceum at 2:30 p.m., followed by the lively match between last season finalist St. Benilde and the perennial power San Beda at 5 p.m.
With the theme of this year “Building Greatness”, the country’s oldest college league will present as demonstration events four Olympic sports – gymnastics, weightlifting, boxing and golf – in the second half of the calendar of this year’s events.
The introduction of these sports, said leaders of the League, highlights NCAA efforts to help stimulate the national training swimming pool with more potential members.
“The NCAA and the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) have a partnership in terms of training and development of these basic athletes,” said Dr. Lorenzo Lorenzo, vice-president of the Emilio Aguinalo college for the administration, during the PSA forum on Tuesday.
Under NCAA rules, demonstration sports must be played for three consecutive years before being raised to a regular status, subject to certain conditions.
In recent years, the Philippines have experienced a dazzling increase in international sports campaigns, including historical Olympic medals won by the Carlos Yulo gymnast (the first double Gold in the country, 2024) and the Halterophilie Hidilyn Diaz (The Country’s First Gold, 2021), a former NCAA Saint-Benilde.
Aside from the development of the base, the NCAA will also host ESports competitions again after its introduction as a demonstration event last season.
“We are very satisfied with the development of e-sport, not only in the NCAA, but also in the Philippines,” said sports director Jose Rizal, Paul Supan.
The opening ceremony on Wednesday begins at 12 noon, featuring Thea Astley, Hannah Precillas, Naya Amba and Acelle Santos, with the president of the PSC, Pato “Pato” Gregorio, as a guest speaker.
“I am sure that during the last 100 years of the NCAA, you have seen student-athletes increase in the elite level,” said Supan. “Thus, over the next 100 years, in coordination with PSCs and member schools, we hope to support our contribution to the National Training Basin.” – With a report by Antonio Inigo Santos / Raplate
Antonio Iñigo ‘Ani’ Santos is an intern to bring Ateneo University in Manila.
