“More than putting ink on paper, this MOA between the NCAA and GMA Network is really an act of hope, committing the 10-member schools of the first and longest-running collegiate athletic league in partnership with the number one multi-media network, to fulfilling the dreams of our student-athletes to healthy and safe competition, and inspiring our school communities and the entire country towards a better way of engaging and enjoying sports, especially in the context of this pandemic,” said NCAA Policy Board president Fr. Rector Clarence Marquez, OP.

The partnership will start on season 96, which is tentatively slated in the second quarter of the following year and will end on season 101 in 2025.

Basketball, volleyball, swimming, track and field, and cheerleading were among the sports to be aired on GMA News TV, GMA Pinoy TV, and via online streaming on their website reaching viewers across the Philippines to catch the NCAA games.

Moreover, the men’s basketball finals will be telecasted on the network’s main channel, GMA7.

The landmark deal also included the broadcast rights for the coverage of the centennial celebration of the Grand Old League in 2024.

Leading the signatories for NCAA was Season 96 Policy Board President Fr. Rector Clarence Victor Marquez, OP of host school Colegio de San Juan de Letran with the NCAA Policy Board members.

Also present were NCAA Management Committee (ManCom) led by Season 96 Chair Fr. Victor Calvo, Jr., OP.

Inking for the media giant were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon and President and COO Gilberto Duavit, Jr. which both attended the signing virtually.

Meanwhile, present at the venue were Chief Marketing Officer Lizelle Maralag, Senior Vice President for Finance and ICT Ronaldo Mastrili, SVP for Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development and concurrent Chief Risk Officer and Head of Program Support Regie Bautista, and VP and Head for Regional TV and concurrent Head of Synergy Oliver Victor Amoroso.

Gozon assured that NCAA has made the right choice with inking its broadcast rights with the network.

“This team-up with the country’s first athletic league is very much meaningful for us in GMA,” he said.

“We are looking forward to showing everyone the world-class talent of our young Filipino student-athletes, and rest assured that we will only give what is best for them as GMA Network wholeheartedly welcomes the NCAA into our home.”