The NCAA management committee will enforce tight security for school-based basketball matches that will serve as a new feature of the 93rd season starting on July 8.
“We will address that issue,” said San Sebastian Fr. Glynn Ortega, OAR, during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.
Joining the San Sebastian official in the sports forum were Peter Cayco of Arellano and Col. Jeff Tamayo of Perpetual Help.
Tamayo, who served as security officer for then President Joseph Estrada, said tighter security will be in place during school-based games where emotions may run high.
“It’s part of the set-up. We have drawn up safe areas for the players and the fans, and road maps inside the campuses hosting the games,” he said.
There will be three games on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The opening matches on July 8 at Mall of Asia Arena will feature defending champion San Beda against San Sebastian at 2 p.m. and Arellano against Mapua at 4 p.m.
The other competing schools are Letran, St. Benilde, Mapua, Lyceum, Perpetual Help and Emilio Aguinaldo College. San Beda is this year’s host.