THE Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL) continued its expansion by adding junior basketball to celebrate its ninth year starting on Sept. 19 at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Six out of nine member schools will participate in the inaugural under-19 basketball tournament in UCAL Season 9 before its full swing next season as a mandatory sport to all teams.
The new discipline will join a growing list of varsity programs for the sprawling league entering its milestone 10th year next season that includes men’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, badminton, table tennis, 3×3 basketball and esports.
Manila Central University (MCU), one of UCAL’s newest members, will serve as host this season with a theme of “Unstoppable Together” in a bid to spring some surprises against seasoned members led by multi-titled Centro Escolar University (CEU).
The MCU Supremos will enter their fourth season after being the latest members in 2024 alongside the Philippine Women’s University as UCAL teases a new school member to make it a 10-team league for its 10th anniversary next year.
“There’s one more school joining the league which we can’t announce yet. We will declare it in Season 10,” beamed UCAL Chairman Horacio Lim, joined by officials from pioneer schools CEU, Diliman College, Olivarez College, University of Batangas (UB), Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas, Immaculada Concepcion College (ICC) and Philippine Christian University – Dasmariñas.
CEU, led by former UE Red Warrior Precious Momowei from the UAAP, looms as the team to beat as the reigning champion in the centerpiece men’s basketball while UB and ICC are the heavy favorites in men’s and women’s volleyball as titleholders.
UCAL Season 9 kicks off on Saturday in San Juan with the streetdance competition before a grand opening ceremony that will include back-to-back concerts from OPM soloist Matthaios and rock band Lola Amour.
After streetdance, UCAL will proceed with men’s and women’s volleyball, esports and badminton for the first semester events this year before resuming for the second semester next year with men’s and U19 basketball, 3×3 basketball and table tennis. — John Bryan Ulanday