For decades, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Philippines have defined the dream of student-athletes. They have produced some of the country’s sports greats, from basketball legends Robert Jaworski and Allan Caidic (both from the University of the East), to Olympic standouts like weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (College of St. Benilde) and pole vaulter EJ Obiena (University of Santo Tomas).
Very few students from outside UAAP and NCAA member-schools ever get the same exposure and opportunity to show their athleticism and draw national attention and recognition. For those who are overlooked or unable to afford the cost of playing for the country’s top schools, sports organizations like the Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL) offer another path.
UCAL’s Basketball Season 8 is coming to a close this week, with Centro Escolar University’s (CEU) Scorpions and defending champion Olivarez College’s Sea Lions clashing in the finals in a best-of-three format. Last Monday, April 20, CEU won Game 1, 87-79, at the hardly known Paco Arena in Manila, and could clinch the title on April 23.
But beyond the matchup, the tournament represents something bigger for the teams who made it this far.
UCAL evolved from the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL), which was founded in 2016. It was built on a simple idea: to provide smaller academic institutions with a platform to sustain their athletic programs and give their students a chance to compete.
It has since expanded to cover multiple sports, such as men’s and women’s volleyball, and esports.
Today, the league is composed of CEU-Manila, Diliman College, Immaculada Concepcion College, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas (LPU-B), Manila Central University, Olivarez College-Parañaque, Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, Philippine Women’s University, and University of Batangas.
While each of the UAAP and NCAA member-schools often have student populations reaching tens of thousands, UCAL has a far smaller number. A UCAL school population could be at most 14,000, with Diliman and Immaculada Concepcion having fewer than 5,000.
The less-known institutions, however, are at the heart of UCAL’s creation. “It would be a waste for the athletic programs of smaller schools that aren’t part of the UAAP and NCAA,” Rensy Bajar, head coach of Diliman’s Blue Dragons basketball team, told CoversStory.ph. “So they created this league to give them a chance.”
Horacio Lim, UCAL executive director and multi-titled basketball coach, invited several colleges and universities to form the new competitive platform. With the help of sponsors and partners, UCAL continues to create opportunities for its athletes to gain visibility, support, and a platform to compete.
Sponsors and partners
With a 1,500-seating capacity, Paco Arena as the venue for UCAL’s basketball games draws a modest crowd compared to UAAP’s and NCAA’s Mall of Asia Arena and Playtime Filoil Centre. But it still fills with students and supporters eager to rally behind their teams.
UCAL has also taken steps to expand its reach beyond the venue. It has a broadcast partnership with Smart Communications through its Smart Sports platform. Coverage is primarily digital rather than traditional television.
The league has secured the sponsorship of PG Flex Linoleum.
Of the nine UCAL member-schools, six qualified for the playoffs. The top two seeds, CEU and Olivarez, advanced to the semifinals with twice-to-beat advantages, and eventually to the finals.
The Scorpions dominated the season, winning 10 games and dropping only one against the LPU-B Pirates. Olivarez was a runner-up in four different seasons before finally winning the championship.
Both teams have a history in the finals. Olivarez has the most appearances, with the current season as their sixth time, and they managed to bag the title last year. CEU has three championships, two of them coming from victories over Olivarez.
The spotlight in UCAL may not be as bright as in UAAP and NCAA, but for the players of UCAL, the glow is just as meaningful.
Terrence John Martin A. Fernandez, a journalism student at Bicol University in Legazpi City, Albay, is an intern at CoverStory.ph.
