WEIGHTLIFTING, boxing, gymnastics and golf will be added to the calendar of events of the 101st season of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
The four disciplines, which are included in the Olympics, will be part of the second semester program. Adding them will be in compliance from an appeal by the Philippine Sports Commission to have them in their regular schedule of the league, which will have the theme “Building Greatness”.
Season 101 policy board president Dr. Dodjie Maestecampo of host Mapua said this following talks with PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio last week.
”Ito iyung mga events na nag-go-gold ang Pilipinas internationally. Sila iyung wala sa collegiate program. That’s why after talks with the PSC, we are discussing with the NSAs on how to start these programs,”said Maestrecampo during a press conference on Monday at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City.
Management committee chairman Melchor Divina said they will consult with the national sports associations on technical matters needed to organize the four events.
The new season — opening on October 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum — will also open under a new format, with the defending champion Mapua Cardinals and last year’s runner-up College of St. Benilde Blazers seeking to return to the finals.
The Cardinals have been bracketed with the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates in Group A, along with the University of Perpetual Help Altas, the San Sebastian Golden Stags and the Arellano Chiefs
The CSB Blazers are with San Beda University, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Group B.
The implementation of the new format will be for both basketball and volleyball, featuring a group stage bracket with the 10 member schools divided into two pools based on specific criteria.
Divina explained that the play-in, playoff system is expected to add excitement to the games, which will differ when the league utilized the Final Four playoff arrangement for the last 25 years.
Under the new format, each team will play their group-stage encounter twice, while they play the teams in the other group once.
There will be a play-in at the end of the elimination round, with the fourth and fifth seed per group to see action in the play-in to determine the team, which will claim the fourth squad in the group heading into the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, the top team of each group will play against the no. 4 team of the opposite group, while the second-seeded team will face the no. 3 team of the other pool.
After that, the top two seeds of each group will have a twice-to-beat advantage, going into the semifinals.
In the semifinals, advancing squads will get involved in a best of three series.
In the end, the winner of the semis will play, also in a best-of-three showdown.
