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New NCAA primer aims to tell stories beyond the game
When Martin Javier and Sophia Senoron received offers to top-bill ‘Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96’, GMA Network’s newest sports program, they knew it would come with a lot of pressure.
But Javier, a longtime sportscaster, and Senoron, a proud alumna of one of NCAA schools San Beda University, rose to the challenge.
For the two hosts, it’s the athletes--not them---that are the real stars of the show.
“The league has a lot of potential that has yet to be exposed,” said Martin during a media conference Tuesday.
“There are a lot of great players who came from the NCAA. There are stars in their own respective sport. I think this program caters to a bigger audience and more people will be familiar with what the athletes have been training for.”
Javier has been calling the games for the NCAA since Season 92 and has always been captivated by the hard work of athletes, both on the court and off it. Meanwhile, Senoron is a proud supporter of her alma mater and is a regular at the games.
Both the hosts assured the audience that the program, which will begin airing on May 23 on GTV, will be more than just sports.
“It’s going to be more than sports,” said Javier, who has known Senoron way before they were paired to host the show.
“We get to talk to the athletes via Zoom but aside from talking about sports, there are a lot of activities. It’s also a way of getting to know the athletes more.”
But unlike Javier, Senoron is a newbie to the job. Although having experience in front of the camera while working as a talent under GMA, this would still be the first time that Senoron, the 2017 Miss Multinational Philippines, to be the face of a sports variety show.
“In hosting, yes. I was a beauty queen, I was a debater but I really have a high respect for the host because what they’re doing is not easy,” said Senoron.
“That’s why I was so grateful that Martin is my co-host because he knows what I’m doing.”
The primer aims to bring the audience closer to their favorite athletes and coaches across all sports.
The oldest league in the country previously said the opening ceremonies for the virus-hit season will be held in June with virtual events like skills-based competitions in basketball and volleyball, online chess, and taekwondo and poomsae tipped to be featured.
Catch the pilot episode of Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96 starting this Sunday.
The one-hour program will air on Sundays at 5:05 p.m., Saturdays at 4:30 p.m., and Mondays to Fridays at 2:45 p.m. —Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News
