NCAA appeals extended eligibility for athletes who have not played

Peter Cayco of Arellano University (philstar.com)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

With still no decision regarding the 96th Season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) opening, the NCAA ManCom (Management Committee) is doing everything to protect their student-athletes.

As the months go by, the season is going through the grinder with no clear indication of whether the season will halt or proceed with the opening.

Season 95 chairman Peter Cayco of Arellano University said that the NCAA ManCom is proposing that all student-athletes who are under their final playing year of eligibility will be extended.

If the season will be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the athletes who are under their final playing year can no longer participate for the next season, and the ManCom is trying to change the situation.

“We are proposing that we adjust our eligibility for the athletes whose tournaments were postponed or ‘yung hindi natapos. Ni-rerequest namin sa Policy Board to give them another year of eligibility,” Cayco said.

Cayco and the NCAA ManCom also tackled that the NCAA in the USA used to do this format and they hope the policy board will consider the terms.

“Wala naman may kasalanan nito eh. Mas lalo na ‘yung mga atleta,” said Cayco in closing.