‘NC’ South grows in number, stature

The NCAA South is not only growing in number but in scope as well.

For the first time in the history of the 10-year-old athletic association, the opening ceremony and championship stage of the different sports disciplines will be aired on national TV.

“It’s about time we hit the national spotlight given the fact that we are now on our 10th season,” said Dr. Oscar Suarez, Ph.D, president of host Philippine Christian University, yesterday.

The league’s 10th season was formally launched during a luncheon at the sprawling PCU campus in Dasmariñas, Cavite, attended by representatives from the nine competing schools.

The season unfolds on Aug. 19 and lasts until March.

There will be action in basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, swimming, chess, badminton, table tennis, tennis, soccer and athletics.

Action will be shown on the popular sports program Sports Unlimited of ABS-CBN and QTV. The NCAA South is reserved for colleges and universities located in the Southern Tagalog.

The other member schools are Letran Calamba, San Beda Alabang, University of Perpetual Help Systems Binan, La Salle Lipa, Don Bosco Mandaluyong, First Asia Institute of Technology, San Pablo College and Don Bosco.

When the NCAA South was founded in 1998, only Letran, San Beda, UPHS and PCU were around. A couple more schools are knocking on the doors, according to league officials.

But more than the number, league officials are hoping for a wider TV coverage.

“It remains our vision to have a full coverage of the games because we feel that we deserve the same amount of coverage the NCAA and the UAAP enjoy,” Suarez said.

“This should trigger more negotiations so we can air not just the opening and the championship games but every game,” said Fr. Paul de Vera of San Beda.