NCAA to retain 7-team cage roster

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Policy Board has decided to retain the seven-team composition for this year’s Season 85.

This after the board, chaired by Dr. Reynaldo Vea of Mapua, failed to come up with the two-thirds vote for a school to make it to this season’s roster.

“By NCAA rules, none of the four applicants (Arellano University, Lyceum, Angeles University and Emilio Aguinaldo College) can be admitted to the NCAA next season (85th Season) because none got the necessary number of votes,” said Vea in a statement.

“The policy board unanimously agreed to hold the status quo of seven NCAA members for the next season without prejudice to their application for their admission in Season 86,” he added.

Management Committee chair Fernando Lozano, also of Mapua, however, said applicants, including Philippine Christian U, which took an indefinite leave of absence last year, may reapply next year.

“We can wait for next year. I just hope the NCAA can give us a chance to prove we deserve to be in the league. The student population, the officials, the athletes and alumni are all excited to make it to the NCAA,” said Val Cayco, Arellano’s marketing chief and the man at the helm of the school’s athletic program.

The earlier plan was to accept one school this year to fill the eighth spot vacated by the Dolphins and expand to 10 teams next season.

This marks the second time that the NCAA will have a seven-team cage roster since PCU was suspended two years ago due to eligibility issues.