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| CEU confirmed that it applied for NCAA expansion, but there is "no clear decision yet" on its bid. Pinoyliga Cup (file photo) |
CALOOCAN—As Centro Escolar University gears up for its bid for back-to-back UCAL men's basketball titles, collegiate sports fans are also focused on what lies next for the school.
Rumors of a potential CEU jump to the NCAA surfaced recently, and some speculated that it could now be a matter of when, as the Scorpions were invited to join the season-ending Mobile Legends Bang Bang tournament as a guest team.
When asked to clarify the school's situation, Juanita Alamillo, the school's athletic director, confirmed to Dugout Philippines on Monday that an application to join the NCAA was already in place.
"We are applying in the NCAA, but still, it's pending," Alamillo said at the sidelines of the press launch for UCAL's ninth season at the Manila Central University LRC Student Activity Area.
"As of now, there's no clear decision yet with regards of joining the NCAA."
The rumors are no longer new, since CEU had already shown interest in jumping ship way back in 2014, when the team was still part of NAASCU.
So what kept the move pending for 12 years already?
"I think if some school will go to another league and there's a slot for us, I think we can have that position, but as of now, we don't have the decision," Alamillo answered.
The rumors about a future NCAA expansion surfaced right on the heels of the speculations regarding San Beda's possible transfer to the UAAP.
The UAAP, as reported by the Philippine Star and Cignal's Quinito Henson, voted to defer expansion but clarified that the league's policy board did not directly discuss San Beda's bid at all.
Also, during the preseason press conference, Jonas Cabochan, the chairman of the NCAA management committee for Season 102, said that the league deferred its own expansion talks for the time being to focus more on the eventual successful staging of the opening ceremonies on Sunday.
However, Manny Pangilinan, the Red Lions' chief backer, said in a report by Tiebreaker Times' Joaquin Cortez that they could reignite transfer talks by the end of the NCAA season, which, curiously enough, is hosted by San Beda.
On the other hand, while waiting for San Beda and the NCAA's next moves, CEU's focus is on the upcoming UCAL season.
Looking to tear the basketball tournament apart again, the Scorpions tapped veteran tactician Bong Ramos to lead their charge.
Also back for another year is Precious Momowei, who instantly delivered for CEU last year, fresh off his departure from the University of the East, as he became the focal point of both offense and defense en route to reclaiming the title.
In a huge boost to its UCAL title defense, the Scorpions made it all the way to the final of the Pinoyliga Cup: The Big Dance and put up a gallant stand against eventual champions UST Growling Tigers.
The UCAL's ninth season will open on Saturday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
MCU, the host school which at one point was part of the UAAP, and Philippine Christian University, another school in the mix for an NCAA transfer—actually a return after 17 years—are among those looking to give CEU a run for its money.
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