MANILA – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has pushed the start of its upcoming season to 2021 as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to affect the lives of the Filipinos.
On Thursday, host school Letran announced that the league will not hold games for the rest of the year and instead have its 96th season in the early part of next year.
"Season 96, with Colegio de San Juan de Letran as host, shall begin in [the] early months of 2021 subject to the decisions of [the] government for the favorable conduct of the games while strictly observing safety and health protocols," said Vic Calvo, the management committee chairman for the new season, and Clarence Marquez, the president of the NCAA policy board, in a joint statement.
The Letran priests also announced that at least four disciplines will only be played for NCAA Season 96, which is now expected to be a short one assuming the league will still look to begin Season 97 later in 2021.
Basketball, volleyball, swimming, and athletics, which Calvo and Marquez classify as "mandatory", will be surely played.
The officials, however, said they are considering adding online chess and esports to the events that will take place next season.
Regarding the eligibility of the athletes especially those who are graduating by the first semester this upcoming academic year, the statement said, "Some rules and requirements on student-athletes' eligibility such as age, enrolment, grades, and even playing years shall be relaxed in consideration of the disruption of the school year and major changes in the education system."
The uncertainty on when the school year for college will begin and how the classes will take place during the Covid-19 pandemic factored in Letran's decision to push Season 96 to next year.
Letran is hosting the upcoming season supposedly as part of its 400th foundation anniversary festivities this year. (PNA)
