NCAA Management Committee chair Fr. Vic Calvo of host school Letran said the league will stand by its decision to uphold the ban on foreign student-athletes starting Season 96.
"As of the moment, majority of the NCAA schools agree na mas maraming negative na nadudulot 'yung presence ng imports," he said in Tuesday's online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
The NCAA first laid down the decision last 2018, when the league ruled that all foreign student-athletes have until Season 95 to play for their respective schools. The ban applies to all sports.
Last season's chairman Peter Cayco also supported the NCAA's decision and thanked the foreign players for helping Filipino players improve their level of play.
"Don't get us wrong. We'd like to thank the foreign players for being able to train and teach our Filipino guys how to play against bigger and heftier foreign players. We thank them for that," he said.
Calvo said the prohibition could be relaxed in the future if enough schools vote against the measure.
"Pero kung babalik, pwede rin. Depende. Botohan naman 'yan as an association. Democratic ang association ng NCAA. Kung 10 'yan, kung may anim na boboto na ibalik 'yan, babalik 'yan," he said.
"'Yung rule ng NCAA, hindi 'yan patay. Dynamic 'yan. Anything can happen. Depende 'yan sa policy board. For example, if meron sa policy board na gustong-gusto mag-import, he can sponsor a resolution then propose it to the policy board. Pag-usapan natin 'yan," Calvo added.
However, Calvo thinks it's going to take a lot to convince schools to change their stance on the ban.
"Kung convinced sila sa kanilang position, you cannot argue with them. Sa open discussion, the NCAA realized na 'yung presence ng mga foreign players for the moment has done more harm than good doon sa basketball," he said.
It's NSAs' 'time to shine', says Calvo
The NCAA is also hoping to enlist the help of national sports associations (NSAs) in an effort to add more sports to Season 96. Calvo said NSAs could do much more to support their respective sports amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
"Time to shine nila 'to. Kung talagang mahal nila ng sports nila, talagang i-finance nila 'to. Sila 'yung NSA nito. Dito sila kumukha ng players. Di naman sa pag-aano, but they have to do something," he expressed.
"Kung meron mang sitwasyon na masusubukan 'yung pagmamahal nila dito sa sports nila, ngayon 'to," Calvo added. "Sila rin naman makikinabang dito. Ngayon sila nangangailangan eh."
So far, only the four mandatory sports of basketball, volleyball, swimming and track and field are on the roster for Season 96, which is tentatively set to open early next year. Only esports and online chess are set to be added.
While some NSAs have approached the NCAA in hopes of financing competitions, Calvo said other huge associations have yet to extend a helping hand.
"Last meeting may nag-propose na dalawang NSAs. Itong mga NSA na 'to nakakatuwa. Alam naman nila sa collegiate nanggagaling 'yung players, so they have to support in this pandemic," said Calvo.
Receiving assistance from NSAs will also go a long way in supporting the NCAA and 7,985 displaced athletes, coaches and officials, according to Calvo, given how some schools have cut 60 to 85 percent of their budget no thanks to the financial stress brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We depend on enrollment [for budget]," he said. "Kapag nagbabawas ng budget, 'yung unang victim ay 'yung sports. Some other schools decreased 85 percent in budget across the board."
"As of the moment, 'yung initiative, nanggagaling pa sa'min to help those who are affected. Pati 'yung officials, officials din nila 'to. 'Yung mga referees, table officials, sa kanila din 'to. Sila din gumagamit dito kapag may mga tournaments," he added. "Alam ko meron din silang mga stimulus packages or help na ginagawa. Pero 'yung mga direktang tatawag na, 'Ganito gagawin namin para matulungan kayo,' isa o dalawa lang. The others, deadma eh."
But the chairman is optimistic that more sports will be added as the NCAA continues to prepare to open in 2021.
"Hindi lang namin masabi right now kasi hindi pa formal, pero personally hindi lang apat 'yan. Marami 'yan. Minimum lang ang binibigay namin," he said.
Season 96 is 'fluid'
In terms of scheduling, Calvo said the NCAA is in a bind and will rely on recommendations from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and other government agencies before coming up with a set date.
The ManCom chairman, though, said the NCAA will open its season three months after the Philippine government allows athletes to practice in order to give them time to get in game shape.
"We're assuming as early as November, based on available data, or December [makakapag-practice ang mga atleta] kaya we're proposing ng March," he said. "Hopeful naman tayo na based sa mga report na naririnig natin na may vaccine on the way and baka for example, November, pwede na mag-practice. So by February, pwede na tayo mag-NCAA."
But until a firm timeline on a vaccine or other solutions is presented by the government, Calvo said everything is on the table for the NCAA -- including changing tournament formats, whether or not to name an overall champion, shortening the season or cancelling it altogether.
"Hindi naman tayo talaga naka-fix, but we're fluid, we're observing kung ano 'yung situation. And then we will fit into that situation para matuloy 'yung NCAA," Calvo added. "Our mindset is as much possible, if the condition allows, we will continue with the NCAA."
Calvo said the league is bent on pushing through with a season in order to "promote the brand of the NCAA at all costs" and support its athletes, officials and spectators -- with the safety of everyone involved, of course.
"We'll be forced to make adjustments kung paano masu-survive. But as much as possible, we'll try to maintain as many athletes and coaches as possible," Calvo said. "Kaya fino-force natin 'tong season na 'to, it's not for our own interest but primarily for the interest of the association, for the players and for the coaches."
"We're caught in a situation na na-surprise kami, but we're trying to make the most out of it," added the chairman. "Dito masusubukan how we thrive in this situation in making NCAA relevant."