To adapt to the challenges of COVID-19, Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) athletics director Hercules Callanta announced yesterday, June 4, that NCAA Season 96 will push through, but only with selected sports events, including the possibility of online sports.
Callanta addressed in a Zoom interview with Pinoy Athletics on Facebook that NCAA 96 aims to continue with only four sports, namely Basketball, Volleyball, Swimming, and Track and Field. The NCAA is also looking into alternatives, such as exhibition games for the remaining traditional sports events or even games that can be played online.
He also added that the NCAA board is prepared to accommodate the needs of participating schools so as not to let any institution take a leave of absence.
The LPU athletics director also said some NCAA schools had to remove some of their training pools even in major sports. With most athletes going home to their provinces, their allowances were also halted. He addressed that if the schools cannot participate due to limited revenues from limited collection or limited enrollment, “then it becomes a problem already.”
On eligibility for the coming season
NCAA 95 was officially terminated last March 19, 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Second semester sports such as indoor volleyball, football, lawn tennis, track and field, under-15 basketball, beach volleyball, and the cheerleading competition were no longer played out. The Season 94 winners of the following events will carry over the title of defending champions for Season 96, but Season 95 holds no general champions.
NCAA 95 chairman Peter Cayco from Arellano University (AU) said that players are still eligible for the next season which will be hosted by Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL). Student-athletes who will play in their final year must not be over 25 years old, and must not have finished their college degree.
Graduating student-athletes who play basketball, chess, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, badminton, and demo sport 3×3 are to remain at status quo.
