THE Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL) will celebrate its eighth year by adding two more sports in a continuing expansion of its sports programs as one of the fast-rising collegiate leagues in the country.

Following the addition of volleyball, 3×3 and Esports last season to its staple basketball tournaments, the league will introduce badminton and table tennis to its sports calendar when the nine-team PG Flex Linolem-UCAL @ 8 kicks off on Oct. 9 at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Also in the pipeline is U19 basketball next season and more Olympic sports in the next gearing up to a milestone 10th year as UCAL, slowly but surely, mandates all of its member schools to parade teams across all sports for program development and competitiveness.

“We have table tennis and badminton now but all the member schools decided that before we add more, all the schools should have existing programs and competitive teams for a full-force tournament,” said UCAL Chairman Horacio Lim, joined by UCAL Board Trustee Col. Edison Nebrija and PG Flex owner Nelson Gueverra, during the league launch on Monday at the Patio de Manila.

Former back-to-back titlist Centro Escolar University will serve as host this season, eyeing a payback in men’s basketball led by champion Olivarez College after its breakthrough title against the Philippine Christian University (PCU)-Dasmariñas in the finale.

CEU President and Chief Academic Officer Atty. Danilo Concepcion, who also chairs the UCAL Policy Board puts more premium on the successful UCAL staging with a theme of “Rising to New Heights.”

“We look ahead to another thrilling season of UCAL, one that promises to showcase the very best of our student-athletes. It will not only be a start of the new season but also a celebration of youthful talent, teamwork and the enduring values of fair play and camaraderie,” he said.

“UCAL is rising to new heights. It challenges us to go beyond what has already been achieved. We call on our athletes to push beyond limits, aim higher, play with passion, discipline and integrity.”

After a grand opening ceremony to be graced by CEU legend Franz Ray Diaz who was picked 74th overall by Terrafirma in the PBA Season 50 draft, as well as the coronation of Mr. and Ms. UCAL, the league will officially usher in the games with men’s and women’s volleyball on Oct. 14 at the University of Batangas.

The much-awaited basketball season featuring CEU, Olivarez, PCU, Diliman, Immaculada Concepcion College, LPU-Batangas, MCU, PWU and University of Batangas then fires off on Feb. 5 at the Paco Arena to headline the second-semester events. — John Bryan Ulanday

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