The 96th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is being forced by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to move its start date way later than it had intended to.
Initially being scheduled to begin on August this year, Season 96 is now being eyed to open on November. This as the Inter-Agency Task Force has put sports under sectors that cannot operate even during the general enhanced quarantine to avoid mass gatherings.
“Fine-tuning pa. Marami pang aayusin. Baka early next week pa maipasa ang proposal to the policy board,” said Season 95 Chairman Peter Cayco of Arellano University.
“We have to consider a lot of things.”
Serving as host of Season 96 is Colegio de San Juan de Letran, an institution celebrating its 400th year.
Incoming chairman Fr. Vic Calvo, OP is working hand in hand with Jose Rizal University’s Paul Supan in formulating the contingencies for the upcoming season. It will have to be approved by the presidents of each member school — the Grand Old League’s policy board.
However, Calvo and Letran cannot plan anything yet since the hosting rights have yet to be turned over to them.
“We are still waiting for the league’s resolution and them formalizing our hosting,” Calvo said.
Also being factored is when the Commission on Higher Education will open classes in colleges and universities.
Season 95 was cut short by the pandemic, formally ceasing the tournament last March 19.
Events that were canceled were indoor volleyball, football, lawn tennis, soft tennis, track and field, under-15 basketball, and beach volleyball, as well as the cheerdance competition.
