The Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum officially starts its seventh season on Thursday, Oct. 17, by welcoming two more schools to its growing family which is a testament to its new-found popularity.

The latest members of the fastest growing league are Immaculada Concepcion College-Caloocan and WCC Aeronautics and Technological College, raising the number of participating schools to 10.

“The light is shining brighter and we’re stronger than ever, because this starting season all decision makers are all from the participating schools,” said UCAL chairman Horacio D. Lim during the collegiate league’s press launch at Diliman College -The Hub in Quezon City on Monday morning, Oct. 14.

“As we go on, we have a lot of different sports. Of course, UAAP and NCAA are our models, and I hope one day we’re going to surpass them and even equal foot with them and that’s my dream,” he added.

Other schools taking part in the league also backed by Akari, Smarts Sports, Team Rebel Sports, Quintana Sports, Crane Faucet, Hapee Toothpaste, Jiang Nan Restaurant, Vital and Gerry’s Grill are host Diliman College, Centro Escolar University, Lyceum University of the Philippines-Batangas, Manila Central University, Olivarez College, Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas, Philippine Women’s University and University of Batangas.

“To our athletes and coaches, I would like to ask you to please uphold the highest standards of fair play and sportsmanship as youth looks up to you as a role model,” DEC president and CEO and former senator Nikki Coseteng said.

The league begins with a Streetdance competition at the Paco Arena also on Thursday then the men’s and women’s volleyball on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the UB Gymnasium with PCU-D and UB looking to defend their titles respectively.

The basketball event kicks off in the second part of the academic calendar in January with the CEU Scorpions gunning for three-peat before the 3x3 tournament where PCU-D is the defending champion also opens shop in April.