A pair of spectator events will be making a return when Season 98 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) returns this September.
According to a reliable Daily Tribune source, men’s volleyball and cheerdance are set to be included in the calendar of events of the country’s oldest collegiate league.
On the other hand, the fate of centerpiece sports swimming and athletics will be tackled by the NCAA Management Committee (Mancomm) in its annual workshop on 12 August.
The looming return of men’s volleyball and cheerdance events gives a sense of normalcy following the coronavirus pandemic that battered the league two years ago.
In fact, the NCAA had to hold virtual events like poomsae and online chess during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
This year, the league brought back men’s basketball and women’s volleyball events, with Letran College and College of Saint Benilde emerging as champions, respectively.
The source said the league is glad that everything is slowly getting back to normal, including the NCAA which will be celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024.
“Men’s volleyball and cheerdance will be making a return this season,” said the league insider, revealing key details on condition of anonymity.
“But everything will be sorted out in the NCAA workshop on 12 August.”
“As for athletics and swimming, the Mancomm is still planning to trim down the events and are still in discussion with member schools.”
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta emerged as champion in men’s volleyball and athletics while Arellano University and San Beda University ruled the cheerdance and swimming events, respectively, in Season 94 in 2019.
High school sports like basketball and volleyball are also tipped to return as exhibition events in compliance to the health and safety guidelines of the local government units.
“The juniors’ competition formats will remain intact but will only be labeled as exhibition games. No points for the overall trophy here,” the source added.
