WHILE it is firm on its “no vaccine, no tournament” stand, the NCAA is exploring its options if and when the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases gives the green light for its 96th season to push through.
Count a school-based bubble concept among those possibilities, according to Management Committee chair Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, of host Letran.
Holding a season in a bubble will be costly and that explains why the league is looking at a bubble that will cover nearby schools that will duke it out.
“May mga modifications, for example, because of the budget constraint, puwedeng school-based (bubble). For example, sa Intramuros, magkalapit iyong Mapua, Lyceum, at Letran.
Iyong classrooms bakante at iyong Lyceum may hotel. Ang court dalawa, so puwedeng gawin doon. For example, sa San Beda, Arellano, EAC, at San Sebastian, magkakalapit iyan,” Calvo said last Saturday on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“Puwede ring school-based siya at apply natin doon iyong bubble principle. More or less, ganoon ang idea,” he added.
Calvo maintained the health and safety of the players, coaches, officials, and fans remain the league’s top priorities.
The country’s oldest collegiate league, however, is working hard to save its season.
“(‘No vaccine, no tournament’ stand) remains the same because of course we have to follow the IATF protocols, the CHED, and the DepEd guidelines but in our meeting (last Friday) we made some adjustments. We’re forming a committee to study the bubble concept na nakita naman natin sa PBA na very successful and of course in other sports in other countries,” Calvo said.
“For example, iyong 3×3 na tingin ko puwedeng gawin and bumuo rin kami ng committee for online events to study the possibility na ipu-pursue namin by hook or by crook ang Season 96.”
