THE NATIONAL Collegiate Athletic Association kicks off its 101st season on Wednesday with defending champion and host Mapua University  taking on Lyceum of the Philippines University in the men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Mapua Cardinals and the LPU Pirates will battle at 2:30 p.m., followed by a showdown between the College of Saint Benilde  Blazers and the San Beda University Red Lions at 5 p.m.

The opening ceremony, set at noon, will feature Philippine Sports Commission Chairperson Patrick Gregorio as guest speaker. Performances from singers Thea Astley, Hannah Precillas, Naya Ambi, and Aicelle Santos will provide entertainment.

“It’s easy to remember: Season 101 begins on October 1, or 10-1. With the theme ‘Building Greatness,’ we want to highlight how, for over a century, the NCAA has produced athletes who reached the elite level. For the next 100 years, in partnership with the PSC and member schools, we hope to continue supporting the national training pool,” said Jose Rizal University athletic director Paul Supan during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Emilio Aguinaldo College Vice President for Administration Dr. Lorenzo Lorenzo, who also attended the forum, noted that the league has introduced gymnastics, weightlifting, boxing, and golf as demonstration sports this season. These events, scheduled for the second semester, are part of NCAA’s contribution to the national grassroots development program in coordination with the PSC.

“Under NCAA rules, a demonstration sport held for three consecutive years may be elevated to regular status once it meets certain requirements,” Lorenzo explained.

The league’s focus on sports development has already paid off in the past. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, a CSB alumna, won the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, while gymnast Carlos Yulo captured two golds at the 2024 Paris Games.

Basketball games will return to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the NCAA’s original home court.

“This is our home. Everyone acknowledges that the NCAA began here. The long-term plan is to eventually bring the elimination and semifinal games back to this venue,” Supan said.

Meanwhile, the juniors’ basketball games—Mapua vs. Lyceum and CSB vs. San Beda—are scheduled for Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Other sports lined up this season include taekwondo, swimming, and lawn tennis, all set at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, while track and field events will take place at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Football is also being considered for inclusion.