The NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball games will tip off on October 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with last year’s Final Four squads colliding in the opening day showdowns.
Host and reigning champion Mapua University will kick off its title defense against its previous Final Four foe in Lyceum of the Philippines University, while Season 100 finalist De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will renew its brewing rivalry with San Beda University.
The double-header comes on the heels of the opening rites, marking the start of a new century in league history.
It also signals a fresh start for the NCAA as the league officially introduces a new tournament format.
Starting this season, all 10 teams will be divided into two groups of five with the Cardinals leading Group A alongside the Pirates, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and Arellano University.
Group B, touted by some as the 'group of death', is composed of perennial contenders San Beda, Benilde, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran together with rising squads Jose Rizal University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
The top three squads from each group will advance to the crossover quarterfinals, with the two best teams earning twice-to-beat advantages. The bottom two, meanwhile, will battle in a play-in match for the last playoff berth.
The same format will be used in the juniors basketball tournament.
Mapua remains one of the favorites with graduating Clint Escamis still leading the charge alongside holdovers JC Recto, Cyrus Cuenco, and Yam Concepcion. They will be joined by new faces Icee Callangan, Cyril Gonzales, and Cyrus Nitura.
The Pirates, meanwhile, will be without two stars JM Bravo and Mclaude Guadaña with the likes of John Barba, Gyle Montaño, and Renz Villegas now at the forefront for the Gilbert Malabanan-helmed crew.
In the other game, both San Beda and Benilde aim to start their redemption tour strong.
The Blazers will continue banking on the core of reigning MVP Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot, Justine Sanchez, and Gab Cometa together with incoming recruits Shawn Umali and SJ Moore as they look to eclipse their finals appearance last year.
The Red Lions, on the other hand, will parade an intact core led by Yukien Andrada, Nygel Gonzales, Richi Calimag, Penny Estacio, Bismarck Lina, Jomel Puno, Joe Celzo, and Bryan Sajonia.
Following the opening day, Perpetual and San Sebastian, which both missed the Final Four last year, will lock horns on October 3 followed by the Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Jose Rizal University match-up.
Mapua and Benilde will return to action right away on October 4, Saturday, by squaring off with Arellano University and Emilio Aguinaldo College, respectively. LPU and San Beda will also have their second taste of action on October 5, Sunday, against San Sebastian and JRU to wrap up the opening week.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
