(L-R) Dr. Lorenzo Lorenzo of the Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mr. Paul Supan of Jose Rizal University. Photo: Angela Davocol.MANILA — The NCAA is set to introduce four Olympic sports as demonstration events in Season 101.
Gymnastics, weightlifting, boxing, and golf — four events which have consistently brought glory to the country on the international stage — will be a part of the Grand Old League’s calendar in the second semester as a part of the NCAA’s commitment to providing potential players for each of the concerned national teams’ respective pools.
“The NCAA and PSC ay nagkaroon ng partnership in terms of training and developing these grassroots athletes,” said Emilio Aguinaldo College Vice President for Administration Dr. Lorenzo Lorenzo during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in Manila.
Jose Rizal University athletic director Paul Supan said that under NCAA rules, a demo sport that has been played for three straight years can be elevated to regular status subject to certain conditions.
Weightlifting and gymnastics provided the three gold medals won by the country in the Olympics, including the breakthrough gold provided by lifter Hidilyn Diaz in the women’s 55 kg category. Incidentally, the 34-year-old Diaz is an alumnus of NCAA member school College of Saint Benilde.
NCAA Season 101 opens tomorrow, October 1, with the seniors basketball tournament tipping off at the Araneta Coliseum.
The newest season will see defending champion Mapua University start its title-retention campaign against its Season 100 Final 4 foe Lyceum of the Philippines University at 2:30 p.m., while last year’s finalist College of Saint Benilde opens its redemption bid against San Beda University at 5:00 p.m.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio will serve as guest speaker when the country’s grand old collegiate league ushers in its next 100 years.
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