HOLDING its 96th season remains a tall order for the NCAA.
Even the much-awaited arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine will not guarantee the opening of the coming season, according to a highly-reliable Malaya-Business Insight source.
“Napakataas pa ng bundok na aakyatin. Wala naman tayong control of the situation. May darating daw na vaccine, pero papayag ba iyong mga estudyante na turukan sila? That’s another thing kahit payagan ka ng IATF,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“Sa amin sa NCAA, ang napag-usapan namin ay vaccine muna. Mukhang may darating naman na vaccine, so next question is papayag ba iyong athletes na magpaturok?”
The country’s oldest collegiate league intends to only have the four mandatory sports — basketball, volleyball, swimming, and track and field — in the second quarter next year under a school-based concept bubble.
The source maintained there’s no talk of scrapping the season, for now, and what should be prioritized is the addition of online chess and esports.
It will also be good for the NCAA to push through with its season since it has a new broadcast partner in GMA 7.
“To be practical lang, siguro ang intindihin natin ay ituloy muna iyong online games,” the source said.
“(But) there’s no such thing as cancelation so far. Ang pangit naman, bago iyong media partner tapos cancel kaagad.”
The league and the network officially signed a five-year contract last Dec. 17.
