THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE Athletic Association (NCAA), hosted by Mapúa University (MU), kickstarted its 101st Season under the theme, ‘Building Greatness,’ in a grand opening ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 1.

The athletes were welcomed with a grand entrance, followed by the oath of sportsmanship led by the Season 100 Men’s Basketball MVP Clint Escamis from the Mapua Cardinals. 

NCAA Policy Board President, Dodjie Maestrecampo, gave the opening remarks, expounding that the slogan “Building Greatness” was a “call for action.”

“Greatness is not measured only in victories and trophies but in the integrity we uphold, the discipline we live by and the positive change we bring to our schools and our nation at a time when questions of accountability echo in our nation, the NCAA stands firm. Integrity is non-negotiable,” he shared, speaking on the virtues and values of NCAA sports. 

This was followed by the guest speaker, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gerogio, who spoke on the history of the NCAA and its role as a trailblazer in Philippine sports. 

“I consider the NCAA as the oldest athletic association in the Philippines, and i[t] was vital to the establishment of the Philippine sports culture. That is why the PSC and NCAA’s shared history saw the most iconic, historical chapters of Philippine collegiate basketball.” 

He further stressed that this development also paved the way for the rise of the PBA and UAAP. 

Season 101’s opening ceremony formally introduced the demo run of four Olympic sports, including gymnastics, golf, weightlifting, and boxing, with these initiatives highlighting the need to “improve the grassroots development of Olympic sports in the Philippines.