THE 87th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) kicked off with an unparalleled display of style and spectacle, as the University of the Philippines (UP) delivered what could be the most glamorous opening ceremony in the league's storied history. The sold-out Araneta Coliseum was transformed into a vibrant hub of excitement and celebration on Saturday. The highlight of the event was a breathtaking performance by the iconic OPM band Eraserheads. Reuniting once more for their alma mater's hosting, the band's set was a fitting tribute to the season's theme: "Stronger, Better, Together." "Did you know that it's our first time performing at Araneta?" said Eraserheads lead singer Ely Buendia, joined by guitarist Marcus Adoro, bassist Buddy Zabala and drummer Raimund Marasigan. Their full set of seven songs — "Alapaap," "Sembreak," "Ligaya," "Pare Ko," "Minsan," "Magasin" and "Ang Huling El Bimbo" — created an unforgettable experience for both the band and the UAAP community. UAAP Season 87 Chairman and UP President Jijil Jimenez expressed his excitement and pride: "The University of the Philippines opens Season 87 as hosts by sending a message to the world that together, we can be stronger and better as schools, as a community, as a nation, and as citizens of the world." "From its beginnings almost a century ago, the UAAP has become what it is today — the most popular college sporting franchise this country has ever seen, and it's most valuable as well," he continued. Season President and UP Chancellor Carlo Vistan II officially declared the season open, marking the beginning of what promises to be a thrilling year of athletic competition. The opening ceremony saw all eight member schools parading their student-athletes, showcasing the diverse talent and enthusiasm that define the UAAP. The morning's festivities continued with a traditional Oath of Sportsmanship led by UAAP Season 86 Athlete of the Year and UP swimmer Quendy Fernandez, reaffirming the league's commitment to fair play and camaraderie. The Collegiate Men's Basketball Tournament kicks off later today at 6:30 p.m. with a high-stakes match between the Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles. Adding to the day's excitement, UP alumnus and indie musician Johnoy Danao took to the stage. P-pop unit Kaia and hip-hop dance group UPeepz also delivered stirring performances, setting the stage for an extraordinary season. Meanwhile, in a grand celebration of its centennial season, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) honored 10 notable athletes in its opening ceremonies at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. A star-studded lineup of athletes across various sports was recognized for their exceptional achievements, marking a historic milestone for the league. Each NCAA school has its representative, starting off with Lyceum University of the Philippines' (LPU) pride and Asian Games gold medalist and Gilas Pilipinas player CJ Perez. During his collegiate stint in the NCAA, he led the Pirates to an 18-game sweep in the elimination round before falling at the hands of San Beda University (SBU) in the finals. The 6-foot-2 former LPU guard is a two-time PBA Champion, two-time PBA All-Star, and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Player of the Conference in the Commissioner's Cup in 2023-2024. Coming from the SBU Red Lions program is 2015 SEA Games champion Baser Amer, who steered San Beda's ship to a four-peat reign in NCAA in Season 87-91. As part of the San Beda program since high school, Amer was also a champion in his juniors' stint and helped the team Red Cubs take its NCAA 17th Juniors title. Arellano University's (AU) volleyball player Regine Arocha was the only female on the list and is currently playing in the Premier Volleyball League with Choco Mucho. During her stay with the AU Chiefs, Arocha took home the Season 93 and Season 94 Finals MVP awards and was also a three-peat champion from Seasons 92 to 94. University of Perpetual Help System Dalta's (UPHSD) four-peat men's volleyball champion Louie Ramirez was also recognized. He is a member of the Alas Pilipinas men's national team. Next is track and field record breaker Mark Harry Diones of Jose Rizal University (JRU), who won four gold medals in Season 90. Diones broke the 7-year-old Philippine triple jump record during the 2017 SEA Games. Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), for its part, named Sidney Onwuebre in the list. Onwuebre is a member of the Mythical Team in Season 93 and a two-time PBA champion in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He currently plays for the North Port Batang Pier. Ryan Jacolo represented the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) in the list, having won five gold medals and five MVP awards in table tennis in all his five seasons with the Blazers. Gilas Pilipinas cadet pool Alyn Bulandi was picked by San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R), while Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) named RJ Jazul for his achievement in basketball after being a PBA champion in the 2013 Commissioner's Cup. Mapua University's Adrian Clarence Nocum completed the list of awardees. He played for the San Juan Knights in MPBL and was the second-leading scorer of the Cardinals in Season 98. The opening ceremonies of the NCAA also featured SB19's Justin de Dios and P-pop's Female Alphas G22.
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