PBA blueprint eyed for NCAA Season 96

MANILA, Philippines — The National Collegiate Athletics Association could use the same blueprint that the Philippine Basketball Association applied in Clark when the former holds its Season 96 tentatively set in the second quarter of next year.

The league was in consultation meeting with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial at press time, talking about the system the PBA implemented in holding the Philippine Cup won by Barangay Ginebra in a bubble setup in Clark, Pampanga.

“That’s a possibility but we’ll see what happens,” said NCAA Management Committee chair Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, of host Letran.

The NCAA insists it would push through with its season even as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has decided to cancel its Season 83 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league’s initial plan was to split its basketball and volleyball events to two groups – one is among Letran, Perpetual Help, Lyceum, Mapua and Jose Rizal in Intramuros and the other among San Beda, Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo, San Beda and St. Benilde in Recto or Mendiola.

There is also a proposal to stage everything via the Southeast Asian Games style wherein all events including track and field, swimming and e-sports will be played in two to three weeks.