MANILA -- Student-athletes whose events were affected by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak will be granted one more year of eligibility, says NCAA Management Committee chairman Peter Cayco.
The NCAA has suspended all of its events until further notice as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, putting a stop to its on-going volleyball and football tournaments. Other sports, including athletics and beach volleyball, have yet to start.
As the NCAA Management Committee has proposed a cancellation of the whole season, several student-athletes are likely to miss out on their final seasons of eligibility.
Cayco explained on DZMM's "Fast Break" on Saturday that the league has already decided to grant one more year of eligibility for athletes affected by the unprecedented situation.
"If it's your final year and you didn't get to play, you have one more year to play," he said.
This is welcome news especially for the seniors, who have expressed their disappointment at the suspension of their tournaments.
"You can still play but we still have to clarify about the age issue," Cayco further explained. "If you're within the playing age allowed, then you can still play one more year."
This applies to athletes of second semester sports such as volleyball, football, athletics and beach volleyball. However, athletes whose tournaments have already concluded cannot play another season.
"This is for those that were not completed and not played na event. Those that were completed, that's a given na," said Cayco. "Basketball, taekwondo, 'yung mga 'yun, tapos na eh. Tapos na ang playing year nila."
Cayco and the NCAA Management Committee are still waiting on the Policy Board to decide on its recommendation to cancel the rest of Season 95.
As of Saturday evening, there have been a total of 111 cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, with eight deaths.
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).