By WAYLON GALVEZ
NCAA officials are seriously considering holding a ‘bubble’ tournament for Season 96 in 2021.
In fact, NCAA officials have a scheduled meeting with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial late Thursday in hopes of getting vital information with the regards to the pro league’s successful bubble tournament.
“Tignan natin kung anong mapag-usapan,” said NCAA MANCOM chairman Fr. Vic Calvo of Season 96 host Letran.
Marcial said he is willing to provide the blueprint the league used in staging a two-month bubble in Angeles City where the PBA teams stayed in a hotel and played at the Angeles University Foundation/
“Dapat naman talaga tulung tulong tayo, kung kailangan ng NCAA ang advice or tips kung paano namin ginawa, tutulong kami sa kanila. Bigyan namin sila ng detalye kung ano ang guidelines, paano ang testing, practice, games ng mga teams,” said Marcial.
“At hindi lang sa NCAA, kung merong ibang liga na gusto kami kausapin for advice, willing ang PBA to share kung ano yung naging experience namin, kung paano namin pinatakbo yung tournament under strict health measures.”
As the oldest collegiate league in the country, NCAA officials have initially mentioned that they are looking at holding Season 96 sometime in March of 2021 with only four traditional sports to be played.
These are basketball, volleyball, swimming and athletics.
Meanwhile, the NCAA is set to formalize its partnership with giant TV network GMA-7.
The league’s Policy Board awarded GMA-7 a five-year deal that will start with Season 96 and end with the NCAA’s centennial celebration of 100 years in school year 2024-25.
