# NCAA Season 96

NCAA Season 96 is the 2020–21 athletic year of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The season host is the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, coincidentally also celebrating its 400th anniversary.

## Background

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila, the preceding season, NCAA Season 95, was terminated. This meant tournaments that were ongoing or have not been started were all canceled. No championships were decided on canceled tournaments, and no general champions were named. The Management Committee has recommended on starting the athletic year in November, instead of the usual July schedule, with President Rodrigo Duterte moving the start of the academic year to September.
This is also the first season where foreigners are banned from playing.
After UAAP Season 83 was cancelled, the NCAA insisted on going through with its season.
On May 14, 2021, it was reported that Martin Javier and Sophia Senoron was to host the season. The opening ceremony was held virtually on June 13, 2021. Originally set for May, it was postponed to June 13 following the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country as well as the placement of the NCR+ under enhanced community quarantine.
No championships involving contact sports, including the basketball and volleyball, would be held. Holding games under the bubble format was considered for basketball and volleyball but such plans did not push through.

## Basketball

The season also had basketball tournaments but it was a skills showdown featuring Martin Antonio teaching the skills. It featured San Beda's Radge Tongco, San Sebastian's Ian Valdez, EAC's Jethro Mendoza, Benilde's Kendrix Belgica, LPU's Kim Cinco, Arellano's Leonard Anquillo, Perpetual's Gerald Dizon, Letran's Mark Cruz and JRU's Justin Padua to show their skills. Its skills were shooting stars and dribble and shoot.
| Rank | Name | Team | SS Time | D&S Time | Total Time |
| | Kim Cinco (C/SFW) | Lyceum Pirates | 27.35 | 24.19 | 51.54 |
| | Leonard Anquillo (SFL) | Arellano Chiefs | 31.64 | 22.58 | 54.22 |
| | Mark Cruz (FL/SFW) | Letran Knights (H) | 37.75 | 20.31 | 58.06 |
| 4 | Radge Tongco (SFL) | San Beda Red Lions | 58.42 | 30.72 | 1:29.14 |
| 5 | Kendrix Belgica | Benilde Blazers | 1:01.23 | 37.39 | 1:38.62 |
| 6 | Ian Valdez | San Sebastian Stags | 1:13.96 | 30.61 | 1:44.57 |
| 7 | Gerald Dizon | Perpetual Altas | 1:36.79 | 53.36 | 2:30.15 |
| 8 | Justin Padua | JRU Heavy Bombers | 2:57.58 | 37.52 | 3:35.10 |
| 9 | Jethro Mendoza | EAC Generals | 3:29.51 | 20.06 | 3:49.60 |
References
Legend:
(C) = Champion
(SFL) = Semifinals Loser
(SFW) = Semifinals Winner
(FL) = Finals Loser
(H) = Host

## Chess
### Seniors' tournament
#### Results

| Rank | Name | Team |
| | Neymark Digno | Lyceum Pirates |
| | Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | Arellano Chiefs |
| | Carl Zirex Sato | Perpetual Altas |
| 4 | Adrian Othniel Yulo | Benilde Blazers |

#### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| July 24 | July 24 | | |
| Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | | | |
| Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | | July 26 | July 26 | |
| Avel Louise Baldovia | | July 26 | July 26 |
| Avel Louise Baldovia | | Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | |
| July 23 | July 23 | | Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | |
| July 23 | July 23 | Adrian Othniel Yulo | |
| Adrian Othniel Yulo | | Adrian Othniel Yulo | |
| Adrian Othniel Yulo | | | | July 29 | July 29 |
| John Michael Magpily | | | | July 29 | July 29 |
| John Michael Magpily | | | | Neymark Digno | |
| July 22 | July 22 | | | | Neymark Digno |
| July 22 | July 22 | | | Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | |
| Carl Zirex Sato | | | | Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta | |
| Carl Zirex Sato | | July 27 | July 27 | | |
| Nel Richmond Miranda | | July 27 | July 27 | | |
| Nel Richmond Miranda | | Neymark Digno | | | |
| July 25 | July 25 | | Neymark Digno | | |
| July 25 | July 25 | Carl Zirex Sato | | 3rd place | 3rd place |
| Neymark Digno | | Carl Zirex Sato | | 3rd place | 3rd place |
| Neymark Digno | | | | July 28 | July 28 |
| John Paulo Medina | | | | July 28 | July 28 |
| John Paulo Medina | | | | Carl Zirex Sato | |
| | | | | Adrian Othniel Yulo | |

## Taekwondo
### Men's tournament

Poomsae – Standard :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | Alfritz Arevalo | San Beda Red Lions | 7.217 |
| | Ivan Murray Solimen | Benilde Blazers | 7.134 |
| | Roi Vinson Belano | Letran Knights | 7.083 |
| 4 | Christian Dave Tayrus | Arellano Chiefs | 6.617 |
| 5 | John Harold Estoy | San Sebastian Stags | 6.417 |
| 6 | Mikko Jeremi Bataoil | JRU Heavy Bombers | 6.284 |
| 7 | Jake Aldrin Ramos | Lyceum Pirates | 6.150 |
| 8 | Ralph Laurenz Gasco | EAC Generals | 6.033 |
Poomsae – Freestyle :
| Name | Team | Score |
| Michael Christian Macario | San Beda Red Lions | 7.033 |
| Mikko Jerami Bataoil | JRU Heavy Bombers | 5.600 |
| Justin Carl Dominic Nacua | Benilde Blazers | 7.033 |

### Women's tournament

Poomsae – Standard :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | Emie Fernandez | JRU Lady Bombers | 7.550 |
| | Diane Nicole Supangan | Benilde Lady Blazers | 7.284 |
| | Lara Alejandrea Andres | San Beda Red Lionesses | 6.867 |
| 4 | Keith Laura Baladaya | San Sebastian Lady Stags | 6.767 |
| 5 | Stephanie Shane Ashley Arana | Letran Lady Knights | 6.734 |
| 6 | Chelsea Marie Bañez | EAC Lady Generals | 6.484 |
| 7 | Francis Claire Apuya | Arellano Lady Chiefs | 6.234 |
| 8 | Marinella de Peralta | Lyceum Lady Pirates | 6.117 |
Poomsae – Freestyle :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | Krizelle Therese Yadao | Benilde Lady Blazers | 6.900 |
| | Shyenler Emelo Cedo | JRU Lady Bombers | 6.167 |

### Juniors' tournament

Poomsae – Standard :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | John Vergel Reyes | EAC–ICA Brigadiers | 7.217 |
| | Aaron Isaac Sevilla | San Sebastian Staglets | 6.717 |
| | Tor Timothy Castillo | San Beda Red Cubs | 6.634 |
| 4 | Lebron James Alemania | Letran Squires | 6.117 |
| 5 | Kimichi Ramirez | La Salle Green Hills Greenies | 6.067 |
Poomsae – Freestyle :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | John McLeary Ornido | EAC–ICA Brigadiers | 6.800 |
| | Raphael Ongkiko | La Salle Green Hills Greenies | 6.700 |
Speed kicking – Bantamweight :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | Ignatius Vicente Pinera | San Beda Red Cubs | 6.750 |
| | Dirk Ranque | Lyceum Junior Pirates | 6.483 |
| | Lebron James Alemania | Letran Squires | 6.200 |
| 4 | Ken Jireh Cuyugan | EAC–ICA Brigadiers | 5.858 |
| 5 | Earl Arvin Arellano | San Sebastian Staglets | 4.467 |
Speed kicking – Flyweight :
| Rank | Name | Team | Score |
| | John Patrick Moneda | Lyceum Junior Pirates | 6.733 |
| | Reymundo Calamba III | San Beda Red Cubs | 6.558 |
| | Chris Daniel Barrozo | EAC–ICA Brigadiers | 6.375 |
| 4 | Kris Martin Pulanco | Lyceum Junior Pirates | 6.367 |
| 5 | Tristan Andrew Diaz | San Beda Red Cubs | 5.108 |

## Media

Due to the dissolution of ABS-CBN Sports and the denial of the new franchise of ABS-CBN by the House of Representatives, the NCAA had to find a new broadcast partner since its media partner's denial of franchise. On November 19, 2020, NCAA signed a deal with GMA Network, making them the broadcast partner for the next six seasons until Season 101.