For its 99th season, the National Collegiate Athletics Association aims to celebrate the power of each individual to make a difference through its theme, “New Heroes of the Game,” as it officially commences its new season on Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena alongside its broadcasting partner, GMA Network.
The NCAA will bring back four new events during the NCAA Season 99 Press Conference held on Thursday at the same venue.
The league announced the return of Badminton and Tennis to its event pool, as well as the inclusion of their grassroots programs in the form of the Kiddie and 3×3 Basketball events.
These sports join the existing pool of events that the NCAA carried over from its 98th season, including men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, cheerleading competition, swimming, track and field, taekwondo, chess, and the NCAA All-Star Games.
NCAA Season 99 Management Committee Chairman Paul Supan shared that the league remains open-minded about other possible events in the future.
“We are bringing back most of the events prior to the pandemic, but we are not closing our doors. We are still studying, not for this season, but for future seasons to add more events,” said Supan.
With the expanded list of sporting events by the NCAA, Season 99 Policy Board President Dr. Vincent K. Fabella expects an improved level of play across all fields for the season.
“We know the student athletes have been very excited to get back to full competition. There’s that extra excitement coming into the tournament this year. We do expect a much higher level of competition and excellence. We are very fortunate we are following the FIBA World Championships; that level of heightened excitement is there,” voiced Dr. Fabella.
Other members of the Policy Board continue to express their support for the NCAA’s direction in its 99th season, namely Francisco Paulino Cayco of Arellano University; Fr. Raymund Fernando Jose, OP of Colegio de San Juan de Letran; Br. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde; Dr. Jose Paulo Campos of Emilio Aguinaldo College; Atty. Roberto Laurel of Lyceum of the Philippines University; Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo of Mapua University; Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB of San Beda University; Fr. Rafael Pecson, OAR of San Sebastian College-Recoletos; and Dr. Anthony Jose Tamayo of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA.
“We want to make the NCAA better every year, and this year, our 99th season, can only be a precursor to the excellence we expect to show all of you in our 100th year,” Dr. Fabella explained.
The NCAA Season 99 Opening Ceremonies are set to begin this Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 2:00 PM in the Mall of Asia Arena, broadcasted by GMA Network.
