Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) — The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) won’t see any action until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Thursday, host school Colegio de San Juan Letran officially announced that they are postponing the opening of the new season until next year to ensure the safety and health of their student-athletes.
“Season 96 shall begin in the early months of 2021, subject to the decisions of government for the favorable conduct of games, while strictly observing safety and health protocols”, the statement read.
Only four mandatory sports, however, will be contested including basketball, volleyball, swimming, and track and field as the league braces for a shortened calendar.
Aside from this, the league is also set to introduce e-sports and online chess as exhibition events in season 96.
According to Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, Letran’s athletics director, this would the best time to debut the online-based sport without risking the lives of many.
“There was already a proposal (to include e-sports) prior to the outbreak but we took it more seriously once the quarantine was imposed given that physical contact is no longer allowed,” said Fr. Calvo.
Apart from online chess, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will reportedly be the first e-sport game to be contested by the ten member schools.
The league is also planning on relaxing its rules on eligibility such as age, enrollment, grades and playing years, “in consideration of the disruption of the school year and major changes in the education system” prescribed in the NCAA’s Policy Board.
Should the government relax its restrictions, the league plans on giving its players at least three months to practice and gain back their condition before the NCAA can reopen.
