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.[2] 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.[3]
On January 2, 2009, it was revealed that the choices were pared down to Lyceum, EAC and Arellano.[4] However, after a month of delay, the policy board failed to garner a minimum number 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7] All three teams signified their intentions to participate as guest teams, paying the league 1.5 million pesos, plus a 500,000 peso-bond.[8]
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.[9]
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.
Most Valuable Player: Aldous Roy Coronel (San Sebastian)
Coach of the Year: Homer Cunanan (San Sebastian)
Swimmingedit
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:[11]
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.
^"NCAA to announce new team before year ends". GMANews.tv. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^Navarro, June (17 October 2008). "NCAA eyes roster of 10 teams in 2010". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^"E Aguinaldo College, Lyceum top choices as 8th NCAA member". GMANews.tv. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^Atencio, Peter (2 January 2009). "NCAA prunes down choices to 3". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^"NCAA suspends admission of new members for 2009". GMANews.tv. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
^"NCAA invites 3 new teams for '09 season". GMANews.tv. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
^Tupas, Cedelf (21 April 2009). "NCAA opens door to three guest schools". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
^Atencio, Peter (25 April 2009). "2 schools join Arellano as NCAA's guest teams". Manila Standard-Today. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
^Legaspi, Perry (3 June 2009). "Guest teams given chance to vie for NCAA titles". GMANews.tv. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
^Legaspi, Perry (27 June 2009). "Olympic events as demo sports in NCAA's 85th season". GMANews.tv. Retrieved 29 June 2009.