International sportscaster and one of the country’s premier sports commentators Anton Roxas joins “Rise Up Stronger: NCAA Season 96” as its sports anchor.
Every day, seven times a week, Anton gives viewers a blow-by-blow account of every game as well as its highlights. During the first week of Season 96, Anton joined sports fans in watching and analyzing the Taekwondo Poomsae Competition in various divisions.
“I’m very thankful to have been given this chance to continue doing what I love in a brand-new home,” Anton shared. “I haven’t been here long, but I already see the effort and hard-work that is being put out by the production in order to create something fresh and different which in turn, gives the fans a newfound sense of excitement because they know that GMA is serious about telling the story of the Filipino athlete in a way that’s never been done before,” he added.
With his 11-year experience as sports commentator, Anton has been covering various sporting events including both collegiate and professional basketball and volleyball, as well as professional and world title matches in boxing and mixed martial arts.
Anton had the privilege to cover the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte and represented the Philippines as one of the interviewers. He was also the program host at the 2018 FIBA World Cup Russia Sports Program and covered the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, as well as One Championship and Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC).
The NCAA sports anchor has long been a fan of sports, with basketball as his favorite.
“I’ve always been passionate about sports. It was my dream growing up to become a professional basketball player. Although that did not happen for me, I have found fulfillment in seeing the dreams I once had come true for the athletes that I cover. And that goes for any sport, not just basketball,” he said.
Back in high school, Anton was a varsity basketball player for De La Salle-Zobel—an experience that has greatly molded him to become the person that he is now.
“Being an athlete has taught me valuable life lessons such as staying true to yourself, working hard towards your goals, being a good teammate and example to all those around me,” he shared.
As someone who has been covering sports for quite some time, Anton sees the importance of pushing through with the NCAA this year—even amid the challenging times.
“It shows that the NCAA did not want to just give up and wait for the pandemic to be over before restarting sports competition. Instead, the league, with the help of its new media partner, GMA, adapted to the situation and found a way to make Season 96 happen. Despite all the restrictions and limitations, together, the NCAA and GMA decided to rise up stronger and are now giving fans a reason to celebrate everyday because sports has finally returned,” he said.
Viewers abroad can catch Anton in “Rise Up Stronger: NCAA Season 96” on GMA Pinoy TV and GMA News TV.
Stay updated on NCAA Philippines via its mobile app on Google and Apple App Stores. Visit NCAA Philippines’ official website www.ncaa.com.ph and follow @ncaaphilippines and @gmasynergy on social media.