The opening games of the 96th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association will most likely be pushed back to November.
Incoming host Colegio de San de Letran is considering this following advisories given by the Philippine government in the ongoing effort to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Outgoing season 95 management committee chairman Peter Cayco of Arellano University said a decision will be reached as early as next week.
“We have to consider a lot,” said Cayco.
The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases gave an advisory on prohibited activities even beyond the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
The body has recommended that all sports activities be cancelled until December of this year.
The quarantine period in Metro Manila has been extended up to May 15 in Metro Manila.
The first semester of every season of the NCAA usually begins in July, and goes on until November.
The second semester follows in January.
This school year, Letran will be the host of Season 96, and it will be in line with the school’s celebration its 400th year anniversary in 2021.
“Sana within the week, maayos na yan,” said Letran athletic director Fr. Vic Calvo, OP.
Season 95 ended with no overall champion being declared. This is the first time that this happened in the league since the ‘80s.
Fourteen of 26 disciplines had to be cancelled after the quarantine measures went in effect last March.
The cancelled events included men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s lawn tennis, men’s and women’s soft tennis, men’s and women’s beach volley, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s football, and women’s badminton.