Brief History of NCAA Philippines and UAAP

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Philippines was founded in 1924 by Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU), Far Eastern University (FEU), National University (NU), San Beda University (SBU), University of Manila (UM), University of the Philippines (UP) and University of Santo Tomas (UST). Since the Philippines was under American rule at this time, the athletic meet coincided with the US NCAA also now in it's 97th Season. In 1930, UP protested on the league's alleged turn to commercialization. UP bolted out of NCAA Philippines, along with UST and NU and formed the Big 3 League. In 1938, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) was founded by UP, UST, NU and FEU. The UAAP accepted new members in the University of the East (UE) in 1952 and Adamson University (ADU) in 1970 after probation. Due to brawls and riots in the Games, Ateneo transferred from the NCAA to the UAAP in 1978. La Salle went to the UAAP in 1986 for the same reason. The physicality in the NCAA Philippines basketball games is their legacy up to this day. Jose Rizal University (JRU) joined NCAA Philippines in 1927, Colegio San Juan De Letran (CSJL) 1928, Mapua University (MU) 1930, San Sebastian College (SSC) 1969, University of the Perpetual Help System Delta (UPHSD) 1984, De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde (CSB) 1998, Arellano University (AU) 2009, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) 2009 and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) 2011. San Beda remains the only founding member left in NCAA Philippines and there are rumors they will go to the UAAP.

Over the years, the UAAP rose to become the Philippines top tier amateur league due to better recruitment of talents from all over the country leading other leagues such as NCAA Philippines, CESAFI, UCBL, NAASCU, UCAAP, CSL and BICCS among others. Our Gilas Pilipinas National Team mainly gets its talents from the UAAP, while some NCAA Philippines players also make it.  Some famous NCAA Philippines products in recent years are Scottie Thompson of Ginebra (UPHSD), Robert Bollick of Meralco (SBU), Rey Nambatac of Rain or Shine (CSJL) and CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer (LPU). Junmar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer (UC) and Greg Slaughter of Northport Batang Pier (UV) are products of CESAFI. Then there's also talents from abroad who make it in the amateur leagues, professional leagues and the national team.

Although i said the UAAP is tops, i consider basketball teams like San Beda and Arellano as UAAP caliber as shown from the Fil-Oil Flying V Pre-Season Tournament and the prestigious Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) where all these universities and colleges meet like March Madness. In conclusion, the UAAP should expand and get teams that will make the league more competitive.