UCAL basketball championship
The UCAL basketball championship is the basketball championship of the Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL). It was first established as the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) in 2016, with its inaugural season opening on October 8 of that year.[1][2]
| Most recent season or competition: UCAL Season 6 men's basketball tournament | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 8, 2016 |
| First season | 2016 |
| Director | Bernard Yang, Carmelo Navarro, Willy Chan |
| Commissioner | Horacio Lim |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Most recent champion(s) | CEU |
| TV partner(s) | Smart Sports |
In 2024, the UCBL would become the basis of the UCAL when it became a fully-fledged collegiate association. The UCBL now operates as the UCAL's basketball championship.[3]
History
editAs the UCBL
editThe UCBL was established in 2016 by Universities and Colleges Athletic League, Inc. under president Franklin Evidente. The league put a focus on television coverage with the aim of giving its member institutions more exposure. The league also put officiating as another focal point, by implementing a stricter system. The inaugural season of the UCBL began on October 8 of that year with seven member schools: Bulacan State University (BulSU), Centro Escolar University (CEU), Colegio de San Lorenzo (CDSL), Diliman College (DC), Olivarez College (OC), Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), and University of Batangas (UB).[1]
The league then expanded over its first few seasons with Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas (LPU–B) joining in 2017,[4] Philippine Christian University – Dasmariñas (PCU–D) and St. Joseph College of Bulacan (SJC) in 2018,[5] and the National College of Business and Arts (NCBA) in 2019. However, it also saw some institutions depart from the league as BulSU and CDSL departed in 2018 followed by SJC in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the league to temporarily go on hiatus before resuming with Season 5 in 2022. Guang Ming College (GMC) joined the league while NCBA and TIP didn't make a return in the resumption of play.[6]
As the UCAL basketball championship
editAs Season 6 approached, Manila Central University (MCU) and Philippine Women's University (PWU) joined as new league members, but the league itself would later undergo an evolution. The UCAL organization added volleyball and esports to go alongside the existing basketball competition, marking the beginning of the Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL). The UCBL name was retired as is now referred to as the UCAL basketball championship.[3] In the following Season 7, Immaculada Concepcion College (ICC) and WCC Aeronautical and Technogical College (WCC) joined the championship after gaining membership in UCAL.[7]
Member teams
edit| Team | School | Location | First season |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEU Scorpions | Centro Escolar University | San Miguel, Manila | 2016–17 |
| Diliman Blue Dragons | Diliman College | Diliman, Quezon City | 2016–17 |
| GMC Flying Dragons | Guang Ming College | Tagaytay, Cavite | 2022–23 |
| ICC Blue Hawks | Immaculada Concepcion College | Caloocan | 2024–25 |
| LPU–Batangas Pirates | Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas | Batangas City, Batangas | 2017–18 |
| MCU Supremos | Manila Central University | Caloocan | 2023–24 |
| Olivarez Sea Lions | Olivarez College | Parañaque | 2016–17 |
| PCU–Dasmariñas Dolphins | Philippine Christian University – Dasmariñas | Dasmariñas, Cavite | 2018–19 |
| PWU Patriots | Philippine Women's University | Malate, Manila | 2023–24 |
| UB Brahmans | University of Batangas | Batangas City, Batangas | 2016–17 |
| WCC Skyhawks | WCC Aeronautical & Technological College | Caloocan | 2024–25 |
Former teams
edit| Team | School | Location | First season | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BulSU Gold Gears | Bulacan State University | Malolos, Bulacan | 2016–17 | 2017–18 |
| NCBA Wildcats | National College of Business and Arts | Cubao, Quezon City | 2019–20 | |
| San Lorenzo Griffins | Colegio de San Lorenzo | Project 8, Quezon City | 2016–17 | 2017–18 |
| St. Joseph Taurus | St. Joseph College of Bulacan | Santa Maria, Bulacan | 2018–19 | |
| TIP Engineers | Technological Institute of the Philippines | Quiapo, Manila | 2016–17 | 2019–20 |
List of champions
editThe CEU Scorpions have the most championships out of all member schools with three while the Diliman Blue Dragons have the second-most with two. The San Lorenzo Griffins are the only other team to win a championship.
| Season (Year) | Champion | Runner-up | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (2016–17) | CEU Scorpions | Olivarez Sea Lions | [8] |
| 2 (2017–18) | San Lorenzo Griffins | CEU Scorpions | [9] |
| 3 (2018–19) | Diliman Blue Dragons | Olivarez Sea Lions | [10] |
| 4 (2019–20) | Diliman Blue Dragons | Olivarez Sea Lions | [11] |
| 5 (2022–23) | CEU Scorpions | Olivarez Sea Lions | [12] |
| 6 (2023–24) | CEU Scorpions | Diliman Blue Dragons | [13] |
Venues and media coverage
editAll games are held at the Paco Arena in Manila every Monday and Thursday, with the live telecast of the games are aired on Smart Sports through livestreaming coverage provided by Smart Communications.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "New league offers televised games, better officiating". The Philippine Star. September 19, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 3, 2016). "UCBL puts seven schools on spotlight as inaugural basketball season gets going". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ a b "UCAL opens Season 6 with two new members". BusinessWorld Online. January 15, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "UCBL expands membership with entry of Lyceum-Batangas in time for new season". Spin.ph. August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "Excitement brewing in UCBL as it opens season with new television partner". Spin.ph. July 28, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "UCBL: Guang Ming makes sensational debut, upsets Lyceum-Batangas". Tiebreaker Times. November 10, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "Starting September w/ a BANG! As we welcome 2 new members to our growing Universities and Colleges Athletic League - PG Flex Linoleum Family". Universities and Colleges Athletic League. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (December 8, 2016). "CEU Scorpions sweep Olivarez Sea Lions to claim title in inaugural UCBL tournament". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "San Lorenzo Griffins sweep CEU Scorpions to clinch UCBL crown". Spin.ph. November 27, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "Diliman College captures UCBL crown". ESPN.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "Diliman Dragons repeat as UCBL champs with finals comeback vs Olivarez". Spin.ph. November 14, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "CEU completes 14-game sweep of UCBL 5". Tiebreaker Times. February 2, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "CEU sweeps Diliman to retain UCAL title". Philstar.com. March 18, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.