Dingdong Dantes, who was once a part of the San Beda University’s cheering squad, is nothing if not proud of his roots in the NCAA.
And that meant he was elated upon hearing the news that the league had found its way to his other home, GMA Network. The Kapuso primetime king also shared how he’s proud that the league is pushing through with Season 96 amid a pandemic.
“I am really proud that finally, NCAA is now with the GMA because aside from the fact that it was exciting to get the league on board, I realize how many people look up to not just the whole organization but also to the players, the products of the organization, and the fans,” he said on 'Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96' on Saturday.
“And imagine combining the values of the network with the values of the league, it just became a perfect mix and marry of these two institutions that I really cherish and value.”
Dantes was part of San Beda cheering squad back in the 1990s and bared that with his lack of basketball skills, he thought that this could be the next best thing for him.
“I’m not that blessed with basketball skills and so I told myself to just go with where I can contribute more and at the time, I was already into dancing because I came from a dance group called ‘Abztract’.”
He also shared some of his fondest memories while still inside the Red Lions’ den, which for him, was one of the best times in his life.
“When you’re a first year in San Beda, there were some initiations so what we did back then was run around the U-belt and we’re assigned with costumes that were really laughable,” he recalled.
“What was assigned to me back then was an adult diaper, a sando, boots, and a pacifier.”
Watch his story on GMA Synergy's 'Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96' every weekday (2:45 p.m.), Saturdays (4:30 p.m.), and Sundays (5:05 p.m.) on GTV.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News
