The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) closed Season 96 with heartwarming interviews from the different members of the oldest collegiate league, as well as musical performances by Kapuso stars. With its conclusion came the acceptance of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in continuing the games, as the College is now declared the official host of NCAA Season 97.
To open “Rise Up Stronger: NCAA Season 96,” show hosts Sophia Senoron and Martin Javier sat with the NCAA 96 Management Committee Chairperson from Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Rev. Fr. Victor Calvo, OP. Fr. Calvo shared how happy and proud they were of how the season began and ended despite the separation caused by the pandemic.
“...Our mindset [was] really to give hope to the NCAA athletes, [and to] NCAA fans to push through with the season. [...] We really laid the skills of our creativity na kaya naming ibigay for this season,” Fr. Calvo shared.
Fr. Calvo thanked everyone in the NCAA community for their unending support and commitment to staying within the oldest league despite the challenges brought by COVID-19.
“Despite fact, sabi [nilang] mga coaches at at saka mga players, ‘For the love of the sports, kahit wala kaming scholarship, maglalaro kami at dito pa rin kami mag-aaral sa Letran, sa ibang schools din.’ So, you know the fact na dapat pasalamatan natin sila, it’s not because of the money or anything else, but for the love of the game, for the love of the NCAA,” he expressed.
Following Fr. Calvo was GMA’s own Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, who congratulated the ten-member community through a pre-recorded video on the success of the first-ever collegiate athletic league to push through in the pandemic.
“We feel even more honored to be part of an institution that continuously helps shape the future of our young athletes and national pride. So, as we culminate NCAA Season 96, we leave you with a promise that GMA Network will remain committed to [providing] NCAA with a world-class treatment and a well-deserved global recognition. Ang inyong Kapuso Network, buong puso para sa NCAA,” Gozon concluded in his personal message.
Furthermore, NCAA Season 96 held a virtual awarding ceremony for the student-athletes who claimed podium finishes in Chess and Taekwondo. The Committee had also declared Benilde as the overall champions in the Men’s and Women’s divisions of the standard poomsae event in Taekwondo.
Benildean-Olympian and NCAA-grown
Senoron and Javier did not fail to mention the winning moment of Benilde’s own Hidilyn Diaz at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After claiming the Philippines’ first gold, DLS-CSB’s Head of Sports Varsity and External Relations Manuel Raymund Castellano shared that he couldn’t be any prouder of how Diaz was able to balance her course and her training.
“Mapa-proud ka rin talaga sa kanya. Despite [the] practices and [training] niya, nasabay niya. So that’s a true student-athlete, ‘di ba? Parang it’s not all about playing or practicing, it’s also about studying and finishing her school as well,” Castellano shared.
Castellano noted that Diaz did not only give her best as a student-athlete, but she also made good choices for herself. “...Hindi niya lang binigay ‘yung best niya—she was able to do what’s right, to do what you’re supposed to do. Importante kasi is ginawa mo pa ‘yung tama, ginawa mo ‘yung kailangan mong gawin for this—to reach your goal, to reach your objectives.”
Diaz’s mother, Emelita Diaz, also expressed her sincere gratitude to everyone who supported her daughter in her growth and development as an Olympian.
NCAA Season 97 turnover ceremony
As NCAA Season 96 officially closed its doors, the NCAA President of the Policy Board from CSJL Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor Marquez, OP, shared his message before passing the hosting duties to DLS-CSB.
“In the Olympic spirit, by competing, we have already won. By playing, we have honored the game. By pushing through and completing this special Season 96, we have made the NCAA rise up together stronger than ever, more relevant, and ready for the next chapter of our history,” Fr. Marquez exclaimed in his video message.
In the GMA studio, CSJL’s Fr. Calvo officially turned over the NCAA Philippines flag to DLS-CSB’s Mr. Castellano to accept the challenge of hosting Season 97.
Benilde’s Brother President Bro. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC gracefully accepted the duties in his pre-recorded speech featured on the show.
“We have seen how many Filipinos strive to persist despite the many challenges with grit, passion, and commitment to do what is necessary to win and achieve our goals are especially evident in the stories of our athletes. [...] With united spirits, let us continue to train and inspire our students to use their gifts and abilities and strive to build a better nation. It is their honor that DLS-CSB accepts the hosting of NCAA Season 97. May this coming season be a year of extraordinary unity for all our schools as well as for our nation.”
The NCAA will remain in close cooperation with GMA Network until Season 101.
