Signed, sealed, and ready to broadcast.
The oldest collegiate league in the country, the NCAA, formalized its partnership with giant television network GMA-7 as the two parties signed Thursday a five-year deal that starts with Season 96.
The contract signing was held at Letran, the Season 96 host, as several officials attended the momentous occasion, while others attended virtually to witness the contract signing.
The league is banking on the wide reach of the country’s largest network, which will allow viewers across the Philippines and around the world to catch the NCAA games on GMA News TV, GMA Pinoy TV, and via online streaming www.GMANetwork.com.
For this Season 96, the Kapuso network is set to broadcast the league’s traditional sports, including basketball, volleyball, swimming and athletics, as well as popular cheerleading competition.
Also, the final series of the men’s basketball will be aired on the Kapuso Network’s main channel GMA-7.
GMA-7 Network’s Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon and President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit both attended the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing virtually.
GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong also witnessed the MOA signing virtually, while present at the venue were Chief Marketing Officer Lizelle G. Maralag, Senior Vice President for Finance and ICT Ronaldo P. Mastrili, SVP for Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development and concurrent Chief Risk Officer and Head of Program Support Regie C. Bautista, and VP and Head for Regional TV and concurrent Head of Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso.
On the other hand, leading the signatories for NCAA were Season 96 Policy Board President Fr. Rector Clarence Victor C. Marquez, OP of Letran, board members Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB of San Beda, Dr. Vincent Fabella of Jose Rizal University, Dr. Reynaldo Vea of Mapua, Bro. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC of College of St. Benilde, Fr. Nemesio Tolentin, OAR of San Sebastian, Anthony Jose Tamayo of Perpetual Help, Francisco Paulino Cayco of Arellano University, Dr. Jose Paulo Campos of Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Atty. Roberto Laurel of Lyceum.
Also present were the NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM) led by its chairman Fr. Vic Calvo Jr., OP, of Letran, Atty. Jonas Florentino Cabochan of San Beda, Efren Jose Supan of Jose Rizal University, Melchor Divina of Mapua, Manuel Raymund Castellano of St. Benilde, Fr. Glynn Ortega, OAR of San Sebastian, Francisco Gusi, Jr. of Perpetual Help, Peter Cayco of Arellano University, Estefanio Boquiron, Jr. of Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Hercules Callanta of Lyceum.
Gozon, who earlier on expressed his gratitude to the NCAA board for trusting GMA to become their new home, likewise assured that NCAA made the right choice to be with the number one network.
“This team-up with the country’s first athletic league is very much meaningful for us in GMA,” said Gozon.
“We are looking forward to show everyone the world-class talent of our young Filipino student athletes and rest assured that we will only give what is best for them as GMA Network wholeheartedly welcomes the NCAA into our home.”
“Having the opportunity to serve as a platform for NCAA in shaping our future national athletes is indeed an honor for the Kapuso Network. Fans and supporters of the NCAA can expect that GMA will pull all the stops to bring the best collegiate sports viewing experience for everyone,” said Duavit.