THE National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Thursday terminated the remainder of Season 95 because of the new coronavirus pandemic.
That means action in eight sports—volleyball, beach volleyball, football, tennis, table tennis, soft tennis, athletics, under-15 basketball and the cheerleading competition—will no longer be completed.
NCAA Management Committee Chairman Peter Cayco announced the league’s decision to terminate the rest of the season as the government-enforced enhanced community quarantine has impacted the program as well as the school calendar.
“The safety of the athletes, students, fans and officials is the league’s priority,” Cayco said.
Cayco said league officials—who discussed and decided on the termination through a digital conference—will again meet to determine how the unfinished competitions will be treated.
The NCAA was suspended twice in the past—the first during World War II and the second in the 1965-66 season because of a rampant eligibility controversy among member-schools.
The games were already suspended in mid-February and a resumption was scheduled for March 16. But this was overran by Malacañang’s declaration of the quarantine.
Competitions in the eight sports have peaked before the outbreak.
In men’s volleyball, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta clinched the outright Finals berth with a 9-0 sweep of the elimination round with Emilio Aguinaldo College, Arellano University, College of Saint Benilde, San Beda University and Mapua figuring in the complex step-ladder semifinals.
Saint Benilde is 7-0 and is two wins shy of also an outright championship slot with Arellano University, Perpetual Help and San Beda University trying to prevent a step-ladder semifinals.
Arellano University is also 7-0 in boys’ volleyball and chasing the Braves are Perpetual Help, EAC, San Beda, Letran, San Sebastian and Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Arellano University leads the four-team girls volleyball action with a 3-0 card, followed by Perpetual Help (2-1), San Sebastian (1-2) and Lyceum (0-3)
Football is set for the Final Four among San Beda, Saint Benilde, Arellano University and Lyceum.
Unable to commence were beach volleyball, tennis, soft tennis, athletics, under-15 basketball and cheerleading competition.
The NCAA is the first domestic league to announce the termination of its season.
Among those canceled—or at the moment postponed—are the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Philippine Basketball Association, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball Association, Philippine Golf Tour for men and women and National Basketball League.