Season 96 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association could be pushed back further into the second quarter of 2021.
The possibility is now under discussion among school officials after Metro Manila, the province of Laguna and Cebu City were placed under "modified" enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to May 31.
The proposal has been forwarded by the management committee to incoming Season 96 host Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
“We might as well wait after the Holy Week. And we're looking at May for the start of Season 96,” said outgoing mancom chief Peter Cayco of season 95 host Arellano University.
Cayco said they are looking into this after Malacanang and the Interagency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended that no sports activities take place for the rest of 2020, while the country deals with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Under the modified ECQ, authorities will allow limited movement for accessing essential services and work, reopening of select manufacturing and processing plants at 50 percent capacity, and limited reopening of transporting services. Face-to-face classes will remain suspended for areas under modified lockdown.
Cayco said they have consulted many coaches and sports officials on the length of time that will be needed for athletes and teams to prepare for the coming season.
And league authorities learned that three months will be needed for varsity squads to get ready.
This is the first time in eight decades that the league will skip the games for at least a year.
The last time it happened was during when World War II when no competitions were held from 1942 to 1946.
“Noong World War II pa huling nangyari ang ganito. Pero ibang situation naman iyun,” added Cayco.
There were earlier talks about opening the 96th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in January 2021.
The decision on the proposal will now be up to the NCAA policy board, headed Letran rector and president Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P.
That's when Letran takes over after Arellano University officially turns over its hosting responsibilities.
Organizers are bracing for the possibility of only having at least four events in the coming season.
And that will up to the next host, led by incoming mancom chairman Fr. Vic Calvo to tackle.
Among the core events that could be played are basketball, volleyball, swimming, athletics and probably e-games.