UCAL expansion continues

MANILA, Philippines — The Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL) continued its expansion by adding junior basketball to celebrate its ninth year starting Saturday at the Filoil Playtime Center in San Juan.

Six out of nine member schools will participate in the inaugural under-19 basketball tournament in UCAL Season 9 before its full swing next season as a mandatory sport to all teams.

The new discipline will join a growing list of varsity programs for the league entering its milestone 10th year next season. Also in the calendar are men’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, badminton, table tennis, 3x3 basketball and esports.

Manila Central University, one of UCAL’s newest members, will serve as host this season with a theme: “Unstoppable Together.”

“Our program is young but we’re ready to perform. We promise to be competitive in all sports. We’ll do our best,” said Javier Lopez-Sanz Chulvi, MCU’s strategic advisor for athletics.