MCU's Secret Weapon for UCAL Season 9? Total Reinvention

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Manila Central University isn’t just returning to the Universities and Colleges Athletic League this season. It’s showing up with an entirely reworked athletics program, and officials say that’s exactly what will set the Supremos apart in UCAL Season 9.

The university unveiled its revamped setup at the UCAL Season 9 Press Launch on September 14, 2026. Now in its fourth year as a league member, MCU joined eight other schools in previewing a season built around the theme “Unstoppable Together.”

In Photo (From Left to Right): Mr. Henry M. Gonzales, Sports Coordinator, University of Batangas; Mr. Joeben Dela Cruz, Vice President for Student Life and Development, Diliman College; Dr. Fe R. Medina, Managing Consultant for Sports and External Affairs, Lyceum of the Philippines - Batangas; Javier Lopez- Sanz Chulvi, Strategic Advisor for Athletics, Manila Central University; Horacio Lim, Chairman, Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL); Dr. Carlito B. Olaer, Vice President for Student Affairs, Centro Escolar University; Dr. Johnny Belandrez, Athletic Director, Philippine Christian University - Dasmariñas; Ms. Hazel N. Mea, Athletic Director, Immaculada Concepcion College; Ms. Ronna Servañez,Athletics Coordinator, Philippine Women’s University; Dr. Jojo Padolina, Executive Dean, Olivarez College — In Photo (From Left to Right): Mr. Henry M. Gonzales, Sports Coordinator, University of Batangas; Mr. Joeben Dela Cruz, Vice President for Student Life and Development, Diliman College; Dr. Fe R. Medina, Managing Consultant for Sports and External Affairs, Lyceum of the Philippines – Batangas; Javier Lopez- Sanz Chulvi, Strategic Advisor for Athletics, Manila Central University; Horacio Lim, Chairman, Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL); Dr. Carlito B. Olaer, Vice President for Student Affairs, Centro Escolar University; Dr. Johnny Belandrez, Athletic Director, Philippine Christian University – Dasmariñas; Ms. Hazel N. Mea, Athletic Director, Immaculada Concepcion College; Ms. Ronna Servañez,Athletics Coordinator, Philippine Women’s University; Dr. Jojo Padolina, Executive Dean, Olivarez College

For MCU, the timing couldn’t be better. The Supremos enter the season with new facilities, an expanded sports lineup, and a coaching philosophy the university says is already producing results.

MCU Doubles Down on Student-Athlete Development

Dr. Renato C. Tanchoco Jr., President of Manila Central University, opened the press launch by framing athletics as central to the school’s identity, not a side project. He pointed to the program’s early track record as proof.

“MCU has taken great strides in developing an athletics program that sets students up for success on the court, in the classroom, and in life,” Tanchoco said. He noted two student-athletes have already turned professional in basketball.

Tanchoco added that the university’s approach now spans seven main sports, backed by upgraded infrastructure and a values-driven coaching system focused on safety and long-term growth.

That expansion marks a big jump for a program still considered one of the newest in the league. It reflects a broader trend across UCAL, where member schools have steadily added sports beyond basketball in recent seasons.

For MCU, though, the reinvention goes further. It touches facilities, coaching structure, and the academic support built around its athletes.

Supremos Aim to Turn Reinvention Into Results

Javier Lopez-Sanz Chulvi, MCU’s Strategic Advisor for Athletics, echoed that competitive mindset when he addressed the media at the launch. He said the rebuilt program is designed to translate directly into wins.

“The MCU Supremos are here to win. We are here to win at the courts, and in life,” Lopez-Sanz Chulvi said. He credited upgraded facilities, stronger training, and closer coordination between academics and athletics.

That confidence comes despite MCU’s relatively short history in UCAL. The Supremos remain among the league’s youngest members, yet the school says it has steadily climbed the standings since joining.

MCU’s leadership frames that progress as the product of deliberate reinvestment, not a single breakout class of athletes. The banner “Unstoppable Together” ties the Supremos’ goals to the wider school community behind them.

With seven sports now under its program and a press launch that signaled bigger ambitions, MCU heads into UCAL Season 9 as a program that has quietly rebuilt from the ground up — and plans to prove it once the games begin.