The 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season of the oldest amateur league in the country kicked off on June 28 at the Araneta Coliseum with the theme “To the Fore at 84: Building Bridges Through Sports.”

Mapua Institute of Technology is host this year. The Big Dome was packed with students in their school colors. Charice Pempengco sang the Lupang Hinirang while Sam Concepcion serenaded the cheering crowd with a song.

Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Administration, an alumnus of Mapua, was represented by his daughter who delivered a speech he had prepared.

One of the highlights of the event was the symbolic “parade of the past, the present and the future” featuring NCAA superstars – Samboy Lim of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Atoy Co of Mapua, Chito Loyzaga of San Beda College, Bong Hawkins of University of Perpetual Help, Romel Adducul of San Sebastian College, Philip Cezar of Jose Rizal University, Nelbert Omolon of Philippine Christian University, and Jordan Salvacion of College of St. Benilde.

The event also featured a unity dance of all the cheering squads of the league. Letran Knights trounced JRU Heavy Bombers, 83-69, in the second game.