NCAA Season 96 looking at November start

The 96th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is being forced by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to move its start date way later than it had intended to.

Initially being scheduled to begin on August this year, Season 96 is now being eyed to open on November. This as the Inter-Agency Task Force has put sports under sectors that cannot operate even during the general enhanced quarantine to avoid mass gatherings.

“Fine-tuning pa. Marami pang aayusin. Baka early next week pa maipasa ang proposal to the policy board,” said Season 95 Chairman Peter Cayco of Arellano University.

“We have to consider a lot of things.”

Serving as host of Season 96 is Colegio de San Juan de Letran, an institution celebrating its 400th year.

Incoming chairman Fr. Vic Calvo, OP is working hand in hand with Jose Rizal University’s Paul Supan in formulating the contingencies for the upcoming season. It will have to be approved by the presidents of each member school — the Grand Old League’s policy board.

However, Calvo and Letran cannot plan anything yet since the hosting rights have yet to be turned over to them.

“We are still waiting for the league’s resolution and them formalizing our hosting,” Calvo said.

Also being factored is when the Commission on Higher Education will open classes in colleges and universities.

Season 95 was cut short by the pandemic, formally ceasing the tournament last March 19.

Events that were canceled were indoor volleyball, football, lawn tennis, soft tennis, track and field, under-15 basketball, and beach volleyball, as well as the cheerdance competition.

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/ncaa-season-96-looking-november-start/183902

PBA may scrap season 45

A PBA season drawn up as a caravan of celebrations, with stops practically all over the country and even overseas, has gone awry.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league is ready to call off the COVID-hit Season 45 altogether if resumption of play won’t still be possible by September or October.

“Government is considering the opening of classes by September. We’ll see kung papayagan na rin yung mass gathering (by that time). Kung hindi pa papayagan ang sports, baka i-cancel na natin yung season,” said Marcial.

The PBA board of governors is looking to convene online again this week for more discussions on the league’s situation and actions amid the pandemic that has crippled all sectors.

Metro Manila is currently under extended enhanced community quarantine until May 15. In case this will later be downgraded to general community quarantine status, activities involving large crowds won’t be allowed immediately.

If everyone’s worst fear happens, this will be the first time Asia’s first play-for-pay league will scrap an entire season.

“(If ever) Season 46 na tayo. Start ng March (2021). Yung champions ng three conferences ng Season 44, they will defend their crowns then; rookies (of Season 45) ay rookies pa rin, tapos madadagdagan pa (from 2020 Draft),” he said.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the PBA was looking at a bevy of marquee projects to mark its 45th anniversary, and has projected record numbers in terms of revenues.

“Kung walang basketball, wala rin tayong activities. Malaking sakripisyo ang nangyayari sa PBA,” said Marcial.

The league set out to launch the inaugural 3x3 tournament and implement measures to improve officiating and the referees/table officials development program.

It also aimed to continue to reach out to the less fortunate and perform CSR activities, including Home Court where players and officials visit barangay street courts, Open Practice in college gyms, Blood Donation Drive, Kids Day Out, Make A Wish Foundation, World Vision, PBA Heroes and Veterans and PBA Run For A Cause.

The PBA also planned an exhibit road show of video clips, memorabilia and jerseys spanning 45 years in a docu-like production, which Marcial dubbed a “virtual multi-museum.”

But in this time of crisis, the league has done its share, donating P1 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) to health workers in Pasig, Antipolo and Biñan, Laguna.

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/04/28/2010206/pba-may-scrap-season-45

Season cancellation among possibilities as PBA weighs options after another ECQ extension

The Philippine Basketball Association is weighing its options as the enhanced community quarantine got extended once again to May 15, which delays the league's possible return to an even later date.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial bared that the PBA Board of Governors are set to convene next week to discuss actions the league could take amid the crisis.

With only the opening day ceremonies and first game between San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots in the books, the PBA had to suspend its season until further notice due to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Although nothing's cast in stone yet, Marcial shared that there's a possibility that the PBA 45th season will be reduced to a single-conference format, or worse, get thoroughly cancelled.

Marcial explained to Courtside Philippines that everything will depend on when the ECQ will be lifted and allow mass gatherings.

"Hinhintay lang talaga natin yung sa mass gathering na yung government kung papayagan na tayo," said Marcial who pointed out that the league can still resume its season even as late as October.

"Kung maextend 'yun (ECQ), pwede pa naman tayo na payagan yung mass gathering by June, pwede naman tayo (mag resume)ng July. Kapag hindi, sinasabi na magsimula ng September pwede tayo magsimula ng October one conference na lang iyon," he added.

If things comes to worst, Marcial is not setting aside the possibility of season cancellation.

"Kung di talaga pwede, cancellin natin yung season," added the PBA chief.

Should the season gets cancelled, champions of the 44th Season will still be the defending champions for the league's 46th season which will likely start by next year

"Cancel of the season wala nang 45th magiging 46th na season na yung susunod so yung mga dating champion, sila pa rin ang defending ganun pa rin ang mangyayari dun."

Marcial, however, insists he, himself, could not tell what will be the fate of the PBA's 45th year.

"Depende nga kasi di pa kami makagalaw dahil di natin alam kung papayagan tayo ng government mag mass gathering, hangga't di nila pinapayagan yun, di pa rin talaga tayo pwede kahit na practices."

https://courtside.ph/article/4278/season-cancellation-among-possibilities-as-pba-weighs-options-after-another-ecq-extension

Excerpt: "Albert, Arum asked to appear at Manila court"

The alleged “bastardized” version of Lupang Hinirang was sang by Martin Nievera at the start of the bout between Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 3, 2009.


In objecting to Nievera’s rendition of the Philippine National Anthem, the NHI cited Section 37 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8491 (1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines) which provides that “the rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”


Felipe is the original music arranger of Lupang Hinirang in 1898. It has tune of march and the lyrics was adapted from the Spanish poem “Filipinas” written by Jose Palma only in 1899.


The NHI, in coordination with the proper government agency, shall disseminate an official music score sheet that reflects the manner in which the national anthem should be played or sung.


When the national anthem is played, the public is required to sing and do so “with fervor.”

They are expected to sing while the right hand is placed over the left chest. Uniformed personnel, meanwhile, are to salute the flag as prescribed by their respective regulations.

Individuals whose faith prohibit them from singing “Lupang Hinirang” must still show full respect.

The national anthem, however, would not be allowed to be played and sung preceding “events of recreation, amusement, or entertainment purposes.”

But the anthem may be played during the following: international competitions where the Philippines is the host or has a representative; national and local sports competitions, during the “signing off” and “signing on” of radio broadcasting and television stations, before the initial and last screening of films and before the opening of theater performances; Provided, that the owners and management of the establishments shall be mandated to enforce proper decorum and implement the pertinent provisions of this act; civic activities, cultural shows or presentations and other occasions as may be allowed by the NHI.

The Oath of Patriotism (Panatang Makabayan) must be recited after the singing of the national anthem in basic educational institutions. The Pledge of Allegiance (Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas) may be recited as well, though the law did not specify who is required to do so.

In Section 20 of the law states: “The observance of the flag ceremony in official or civic gatherings shall be simple and dignified and shall include the playing and mandatory singing of the national anthem in its original Filipino lyrics and march tempo.”

When Nievera belted out Lupang Hinirang, it started slowly, took on a martial beat in the middle, then finally ended on a sustained high note.

The same law punishes failure or refusal to observe the provisions of the code with public censure, “which shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. The guilty person may be fined up to P 5,000 or imprisoned for not more than a year, or “be meted with both penalties, at the discretion of the court.”

All citizens to stand at attention and sing with fervor, as a sign of respect, when the National Anthem is played at public gatherings.

Even moviegoers who do not stand up when the National Anthem is being played in cinemas will be sanctioned, as it empowers the security personnel and ushers in movie houses to arrest a violator and summon law enforcement officers to assist in conducting citizens' arrest.

But Nievera has maintained he did nothing wrong, and he is unrepentant. He insisted he interpreted the song the way he “understood” it.

After 11 years, the National Anthem 1998 Centennial Version during the Presidency of Joseph Estrada making a comeback on ABS-CBN, S+A, PTV, One TV, One Sports, IBC, BEAM TV, now in digitally restored, remastered and in 4K UHD and 1080p Widescreen.

While on GMA-7 and GMA News TV-27 is the 1994 version produced by BPI.