NCAA Season 85

New member

With the Philippine Christian University (PCU) taking an indefinite leave of absence after the revelation of identity switching on their juniors' basketball team, the league began accepting candidates to take over PCU's spot. Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), Centro Escolar University (CEU), Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Arellano University and Lyceum of the Philippines University were the top candidates to join the league; other schools that were considered are Technological University of the Philippines and Don Bosco Technical College (a member of the NCAA South). Seeking to name a replacement before the year ends, the new school must have a high school varsity program, participate in all NCAA sports, undergo a three-year probationary period, and pay a PHP5 million membership fee.

Aside from assuring itself an 8-team roster for 2009, the league also envisions on having a 10-team league by 2010. PCU may still apply for membership but they will have to go through the same process as the other new applicants. League chairman for 2008-09 Ding Lozano of the Mapua Institute of Technology mentioned that Lyceum and EAC were the top contenders to be accepted in 2008.

On January 2, 2009, it was revealed that the choices were pared down to Lyceum, EAC and Arellano. However, after a month of delay, the policy board failed to garner a minimum amount of votes to admit a new member; thus for this season, there will only be seven schools participating, while the schools that were considered will still be in contention for next season.

Prior to the Holy Week break, NCAA president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB announced that three schools were invited to compete as "guest teams" for the 2009–10 season, although he didn't mention the identities of the invited schools. Those that will accept invitations will still apply for full membership for the 2010–11 season. On April 21, newspapers announced that the three schools invited were Angeles University Foundation, Arellano University and Emilio Aguinaldo College. Lyceum's chances were said to be hurt with an absence of a high school varsity program. All three teams signified their intentions to participate as guest teams, paying the league 1.5 million pesos, plus a 500,000 peso-bond.

The Management Committee also decided that guest teams are eligible to win championships in the events they will participate at, and that their performance will be a part of their acceptance as full members.

Demonstration sports

Olympic sports amateur boxing, archery and fencing will be contested as demonstration sports in the 2009–10 season. Boxing will be implemented with the help of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, with its secretary-general Patrick Gregorio saying that it is a welcome development.

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced. Guest teams are italicized.

Tiebreakers:
San Beda def. San Sebastian 71–65 in the first-seed playoff.

  Qualified to the semifinals with the twice to beat advantage
  Qualified to the semifinals

Awardees

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced.
Guest teams are italicized.
Tiebreakers:

  Qualified to the semifinals with the twice to beat advantage
  Qualified to the semifinals
  Qualified to the fourth-seed playoff

Bracket

Awardees

Volleyball

The volleyball tournaments commence on August 16, 2009 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Subsequent games will then be held at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

The old split-season format (winners of the first and second half of the season faced off in the best-of-3 finals) would not be used. Instead, the tournament will be a single round robin, with the top four advancing to another round robin semifinals, with best two teams going to the best-of-3 finals.

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced. Guest teams are italicized.

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced. Guest teams are italicized.

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced. Guest teams are italicized.

Chess

The chess tournaments are held at SM City Manila starting on July 25, 2008.

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced. Guest teams are italicized.

Bracket

Awards

Elimination round

Season host is boldfaced. Guest teams are italicized.

Bracket

Awards

Swimming

The swimming championships were held at Trace Aquatics Center Los Baños, Laguna starting from August 18. A women's tournament, a demonstration event, was also held. The results are:

Men's tournament

Juniors' tournament

Women's tournament

Women's swimming is a demonstration sport and is not counted on the General Championship.

Football

The football tournaments are divided into three stages: A round robin elimination where the top four teams advance to the a round robin semifinals, and the finals where the top seed has the twice to beat advantage.

Cheerleading

The NCAA Cheerdance Competition was held on October 21, 2009 at the Filoil Flying V Arena. The affair was covered live by Studio 23 and was hosted by Drei Felix and the various NCAA courtside reporters.

General Championship race

Season host is boldfaced.