MANILA, Philippines – Former Olympian and now Philippine Sports Commissioner Akiko Thomson and sportsman Rey Gamboa will grace the grand opening of the 12th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) South at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) campus in Tanauan, Batangas on Monday.

Thomson, and Gamboa, who is Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) chairman, will be joined by FAITH president Saturnino Belen at the kick-off rites starting at 9:30 a.m. following a motorcade of all 10 NCAA South member teams around the town.

Aside from the host, expected to come out in full force with their respective officials, athletes and muses are Letran-Calamba, Lyceum University-Batangas, PCU-Dasma, San Beda-Alabang, La Salle-Lipa, University of Batangas, Perpetual-Biñan, Don Bosco-Mandaluyong and San Pablo Colleges.

“We look forward and are excited to host the league for the first time coinciding with FAITH’s 10th anniversary as a school,” FAITH vice president and NCAA organizing committee chairman Gay Marie Francisco, said of the event sponsored by Globe Telecom, Coke, and Lima Park Hotel.

“This is a great honor for our institution and we hope to get this athletic showcase on the right track with the program we prepared for Monday’s opening ceremonies,” said Francisco.

This year’s theme is “More than the Game: Unity through Sports.”

The NCAA-South is an offshoot of the NCAA-Manila.