Hope for varsity athletes: Improved health situation could lead to more events

The NCAA could add more events in its shortened Season 96 calendar next year if the health situation in the country improves.

Its 95th season cut short by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the NCAA has decided to only hold four mandatory sports for next season with basketball, volleyball, track and field and swimming on tap.

But Season 96 management committee chair Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran said the NCAA is still considering sports like tennis, chess, badminton, table tennis and esports (Mobile Legends) to be part of the calendar next year.

“It will really depend on the situation, but we’re hopeful that we could still add more events,” said Calvo, who was joined by last season’s chair, Peter Cayco of Arellano, during the PSA Forum webcast on Tuesday.

Calvo said online chess and esports will be great additions to the NCAA calendar. Esports was a rich source of gold medals for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games last year and Calvo said the current situation favors the event being included to the NCAA roster.

Calvo hinted that the NCAA will also modify events in several sports with the scrapping of relay events in swimming and track and field as well as doubles in both lawn tennis and table tennis and badminton.

The failure to finish other events this season also means the NCAA will not be handing out a general championship. INQ