NCAA eyes games at Rizal Memorial Coliseum for Season 100

FILE– The NCAA is celebrating its centennial season this year.

MANILA, Philippines—As the 100th season of the NCAA looms, the league may explore its old roots.

NCAA Season 100 host Lycuem is mulling holding games at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

“It’s always good to go back where you started from. We want to see, so most probably, we will consider that [venue] for some games,” said Athletic Director  Lyceum, Herc Callanta.

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“Proxitimity-wise, Rizal and Ninoy Aquino Stadium are good, just so that we can also bring the games closer to the student.”

The NCAA, the country’s oldest collegiate league, used to hold games at Rizal.

The fabled arena in Manila was established in 1934, just 10 years after the foundation of the NCAA, which will be celebrating its centennial season in a few months.

Since 2004, though, NCAA games have been played away from Rizal, notably at Smart Araneta Coliseum or San Juan Arena.

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After facelift in 2019, Rizal Memorial Coliseum went back to hosting PBA and MPBL games.

It was being considered to be the venue for Season 100’s opening before the league decided to hold it at Mall of Asia Arena on September 7.

“We want it to be special,” said Callanta. “We would’ve wanted it [opening] to be there but the venue is quite small.”

Schedule of games has yet to be released.