CAN the NCAA hack it anew?
Management Committee chairman Dax Castellano of host College of St. Benilde hopes the NCAA can hold its new season with the same success it had last year.
“I would like to honor the CHED for preparing and guiding us,” Castellano said over the weekend in the league’s media launch at the GMA Network Studio 6 in Quezon City.
“I’m very sure it will be a successful and entertaining competition,” he added.
The country’s oldest collegiate league plodded on last season with virtual and skills events, with the basketball and volleyball tournaments getting cancelled.
Taekwondo and chess were both held online, while alumni from all 10 member-schools participated in All-Star Skills competitions for both basketball and volleyball.
After a nearly two-year hiatus, the season that kicks off with the basketball tournament this Saturday marks the return of face-to-face competitions that also includes the volleyball wars.
Online taekwondo and chess tilts will still be held.
Reigning champion Letran begins its bid for a second straight title when it squares off with the Blazers of new coach Charles Tiu at 3:30 p.m. after the opening ceremonies at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
San Beda University tangles with Lyceum, with tactician Gilbert Malabanan making his collegiate coaching debut, in the nightcap at 7:05. Both matches will be aired on the league’s new television carrier GTV or GMA-7.
The NCAA will do away with the traditional double-round robin format and will instead have a single-round elimination.
“We agreed on a single-round format because this is a challenging time. We have four phases, the eliminations, play-in, semifinals and finals. We are prepared for it,” Castellano said.
“We give chances to the No. 5 and 6 teams to make it to the semifinals.”
