The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Philippines' oldest collegiate sports league, has decided to move its official opening ceremony this late of March to provide an additional training period for its athletes.
Following the decision, the sports league, under the supervision of the succeeding host, the College of St. Benilde, sought the assistance of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to obtain several exemptions from the current guidelines concerning the restrictions imposed on sporting events.
Primarily, the league was supposed to begin on March 5, with four sports awaiting its commencement. The NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM) and its partner broadcasting network, GMA, have yet to announce the exact official opening date.
"But this will have to pass through the Department of Health (DOH)," said NCAA MANCOM official Peter Cayco of Arellano University.
"We are just hoping that with the decline of coronavirus cases, they will grant our request."
"For the tournament to be competitive, our teams need six to eight weeks of training," added Cayco.
Nevertheless, the league has already begun its online chess tournaments and online taekwondo (poomsae and speed-kicking) competitions.