Universities and Colleges Basketball League

Basketball league in the Philippines

UCAL basketball championshipMost 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| 9
Country|  Philippines
Most recent
champion(s)| CEU
TV partner(s)| Smart Sports

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]

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

[edit]

The 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]

## Member schools

[edit]

School  | Location  | Founded  | Nickname  | Membership

|
|
|
|

Centro Escolar University | San Miguel, Manila | 1907 as Centro Escolar de Señoritas | Scorpions  | 2016–present[1]
Diliman College | Diliman, Quezon City | 1998 as Diliman Computer Technology Institute | Blue Dragons  | 2016–present[1]
Guang Ming College | Tagaytay, Cavite | 2014  | Flying Dragons  | 2022–present[4]
Immaculada Concepcion College | Caloocan | 1984  | Blue Hawks  | 2024–present[5]
Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas | Batangas City, Batangas | 1966 as Lyceum of Batangas | Pirates | 2017–present[6]
Manila Central University | Caloocan | 1904 as Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila | Supremos  | 2023–present[3]
Olivarez College | Parañaque | 1976 as Olivarez School of Nursing | Sea Lions  | 2016–present[1]
Philippine Christian University – Dasmariñas | Dasmariñas, Cavite | 1946 as Philippine Christian College | Dolphins | 2018–present[7]
Philippine Women's University | Malate, Manila | 1919 as Philippine Women's College | Patriots  | 2023–present[3]
University of Batangas | Batangas City, Batangas | 1946 as Western Philippine Colleges | Brahmans  | 2016–present[1]
WCC Aeronautical & Technological College | Caloocan | 2005  | Skyhawks  | 2024–present[5]

### Former members

[edit]

All former members left during the UCBL era.

School  | Location  | Founded  | Nickname  | Membership

|
|
|
|

Bulacan State University | Malolos, Bulacan | 1904 as Bulacan Trade School | Gold Gears  | 2016–2017
Colegio de San Lorenzo | Project 8, Quezon City | 1987 (closed in 2022) | Griffins  | 2016–2017
Technological Institute of the Philippines | Quiapo, Manila | 1962  | Engineers  | 2016–2019
St. Joseph College of Bulacan | Santa Maria, Bulacan | 1996  | Taurus  | 2018
National College of Business and Arts | Cubao, Quezon City | 1967  | Wildcats  | 2019

### Membership timeline

[edit]

## List of champions

[edit]

Season (Year) | Champion | Ref.

|
|

1 (2016–17)  | CEU Scorpions | [8]
2 (2017–18)  | San Lorenzo Griffins | [9]
3 (2018–19)  | Diliman Blue Dragons  | [10]
4 (2019–20)  | Diliman Blue Dragons  | [11]
5 (2022–23)  | CEU Scorpions  | [12]
6 (2023–24)  | CEU Scorpions  | [13]

## Venues and media coverage

[edit]

All 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

[edit]

* UAAP basketball championships
* NCAA basketball championships (Philippines)
* National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "New league offers televised games, better officiating". The Philippine Star. September 19, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ a b c "UCAL opens Season 6 with two new members". BusinessWorld Online. January 15, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
4. ^ "UCBL: Guang Ming makes sensational debut, upsets Lyceum-Batangas". Tiebreaker Times. November 10, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
5. ^ a b "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.
6. ^ "UCBL expands membership with entry of Lyceum-Batangas in time for new season". Spin.ph. August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
7. ^ "Excitement brewing in UCBL as it opens season with new television partner". Spin.ph. July 28, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
8. ^ Terrado, Reuben (December 8, 2016). "CEU Scorpions sweep Olivarez Sea Lions to claim title in inaugural UCBL tournament". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
9. ^ "San Lorenzo Griffins sweep CEU Scorpions to clinch UCBL crown". Spin.ph. November 27, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
10. ^ "Diliman College captures UCBL crown". ESPN.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
11. ^ "Diliman Dragons repeat as UCBL champs with finals comeback vs Olivarez". Spin.ph. November 14, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
12. ^ "CEU completes 14-game sweep of UCBL 5". Tiebreaker Times. February 2, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
13. ^ "CEU sweeps Diliman to retain UCAL title". Philstar.com. March 18, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Universities and Colleges Basketball League on Facebook

* v
* t
* e

Basketball in the Philippines

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

National teams|

* Seniors
* M
* W
* Juniors
* M
* W
* Youth
* M
* W
* 3x3
* M
* W
* Universiade
* M
* In FIBA club tournaments

Professional competitions|

* Philippine Basketball Association
* D-League
* Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
* National Basketball League
* Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup
* Pilipinas Super League
* AsiaBasket
* Women's National Basketball League

Amateur and semi-professional competitions|

* UNTV Cup

Collegiate competitions|

* Tournaments
* Father Martin Cup
* Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup
* Philippine Collegiate Champions League
* Leagues
* Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.
* Colleges and Universities Sports Association
* Iloilo Schools Sports Association
* Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association
* Men's National Collegiate Athletic Association
* Private Schools Athletic Association (Philippines)
* National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities
* National Capital Region Athletic Association
* National Collegiate Athletic Association
* National Collegiate Athletic Association South
* State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association
* University Athletic Association of the Philippines
* United Calabarzon Collegiate League
* United Central Luzon Athletic Association
* Universities and Colleges Athletic Association
* Universities and Colleges Athletic League
* Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association

* List of teams
* List of venues
* Players
* Men
* National team
* Women
* National team
* Lists

* v
* t
* e

Sports leagues in the Philippines

Basketball|

* Philippine Basketball Association (D-League)
* Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
* National Basketball League
* Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup
* Pilipinas Super League
* FilBasket / AsiaBasket
* Philippine Collegiate Champions League
* Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship
* UNTV Cup
* Women's National Basketball League
* Pinay Ballers League

Football|

* Philippines Football League
* PFF Women's League
* Zamboanga Football League

Volleyball|

* Premier Volleyball League
* Spikers' Turf
* Shakey's Super League
* Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association
* V-League

Other sports|

* Philippine Baseball League (Baseball)
* The Nationals (esports)

Collegiate leagues|

* UAAP
* NCAA
* CESAFI
* NAASCU
* UCAL
* NCRAA
* UCAA
* ISAA
* CUSA
* UCLAA
* WNCAA
* MNCAA
* PRISAA
* PRISSAA
* SCUAA
* COSAA
* ISSA
* LCUAA
* NOPSSCEA
* DCCL
* UCLAA
* UCCL
* WVRAA

*[v]: View this template
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*[COSAA]: Cagayan de Oro Schools Athletics Association
*[WVRAA]: Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association