The University and Colleges Athletic League jacked up its level of play as it added four more events in its sixth season that opens this Saturday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

UCAL president Franklin Evidente said they have added four events — men's and women's volleyball, men's 3×3 basketball, and Esports — following the growing clamor among their nine member-schools.

UCAL used to be known as the University and Colleges Basketball League. But with the addition of new sports, the league will now be known as UCAL.

"Now, we will be called UCAL because we are adding more sports than basketball," Evidente said during a news briefing at the Manila Central University auditorium on Monday.

"It just shows that the schools have been waiting for it in the past seasons so we're glad to do that."

Evidente added that they have also decided to hold their opening in January instead of September to avoid a collision with the men's basketball events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association.

"We'll start that this year and for the coming seasons the opening month will be in January. I think it's a positive change as the basketball seasons of the two more popular leagues are already over."

Making their debut in the UCAL are Manila Central University and Philippine Women's University.

MCU will play against defending champion Centro Escolar University in the opening day at 12 noon while PWU faces season host Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas at 2 p.m. at the Paco Arena.

Also vying for this year's UCAL crown are Diliman College, Guang Ming College, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, Olivarez College and University of Batangas.