Four schools knocking on NC door

With Philippine Christian University set to bow out of the NCAA picture next year, four schools have already signified their intention to join the country’s oldest collegiate league.

But NCAA management committee chairman Ding Lozano of host Mapua said it’s too early to tell which school will be accepted although he hinted at the possibility of entertaining new applicants in the next semester.

“There’s no certainty yet. We’ll start to think about it maybe after the basketball season, possibly in the middle of the second semester,” said Lozano.

At least eight schools have shown interest in joining the league after the Dolphins, back after serving out a one-year suspension last year, decided to file an indefinite leave of absence starting next season.

Some of the schools interested on joining the league are Emilio Aguinaldo College, University of Manila, Angeles University in Pampanga and Trinity U, a former league member which also took a leave of absence.

For a school to make it to the NCAA family, it must meet certain requirements, including the needed high school and college levels.

“That’s the most important thing, you must have a high school and college otherwise you’ll be denied outright,” said St. Benilde’s Henry Atayde.

Also, the applicant must be ready to participate in all events for the next three seasons, including compulsory sports basketball and centerpiece athletics on top of paying the entry fee.

Atayde said the new applicant will undergo probationary status the first three years before becoming a regular member.

As regular member, the school can opt not to participate in three events except in basketball and track and field.

When PCU and St. Benilde entered the league in 1996 and 1998, respectively, it paid the NCAA a fee amounting to P600,000 each.