The NCAA Season 101 is shaping up to be one of the most electrifying years in the Grand Ol' League's recent history.
The season has already seen two triple-doubles courtesy of Sorsoganon pride T-Mc Ongotan and Cebuano ace Jonathan Manalil. Upsets and stunners abound as the Group A and Group B leaderboards start to take shape ahead of the final group games. All that and more in this edition of the NCAA Weekly Recap.
OCTOBER 14, 2025
Arellano won over LPU, 92-65.
The ‘T’ in T-Mc stands for triple-double.
The first since 2022, Bulan, Sorsogon pride T-Mc Ongotan pulled down an elusive triple-double 13 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists to rev up the Arellano Chiefs in the bullish win.
The cat-quick guard became the first Chief to own a triple-double since Arellano legend Jio Jalalon, and the first in the NCAA since 2022.
Renzo Abiera also dealt heavy damage with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 dimes, while defensive specialist AG Borromeo added 11 points, 6 boards, and 4 steals.
The Pirates struggled navigating their offense, but were captained by John Barba and Renz Villegas’ 18 and 10 points.
San Beda won over EAC, 81-64.
Janti Miller is a certified bucket-getter.
The San Beda Red Lions did not hold back, preying on the EAC Generals to effectively avenge a nail-biter loss to the young JRU.
Janti Miller– San Beda’s prized rookie– had himself his typically productive outing with 14 points and nine boards to win the best player honors, while Jomel Puno, Zed Etulle, and Nygel Gonzales also scored in double digits.
San Beda outrebounded EAC big time, 53-37, while locking down EAC’s usual protagonists on the offensive end.
No General scored in double digits, with Wilmar Oftana and Nico Quinal leading the charge with nine apiece.
OCTOBER 15, 2025
JRU won over San Sebastian, 59-46.
In the absence of veteran shooter Shawn, rookie sensation Sean steps up to the plate.
The quick-paced core of the Heavy Bombers had enough weapons to annihilate San Sebastian, much thanks to Sean Salvador’s career-high 22 points built on 5 triples with 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
True to Nani Epondulan’s coaching vision for his rookie and sophomore-laden squad, JRU used speed and aggression to shift the momentum to their side.
Justin Lozano chipped in 11, and Yuri Duque had 8, while Allan Laurenaria flirted with a double-double with 7 points and 8 boards in only 16 minutes of play.
The Golden Stags’ silver lining was the consistently stellar showing of their prized rookie Jhuniel Dela Rama, who currently leads the league in rebounding.
In the losing cause, the young stud from San Sebatian gathered 9 points and 15 boards.
Letran won over Perpetual, 63-56.
Letran makes sure there are no undefeated teams in #NCAA101.
Deo Cuajao and Jimboy Estrada shared the scoring load and combined for 39 points as the Knights made sure to build on their newfound momentum.
The victory comes hot on the heels of Letran’s skid-snapping 84-80 win over EAC, making for an all-important pair of victories to redeem themselves after a forgettable opening run.
BPG Deo Cuajao was red-hot in 27 minutes of play: 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
Jimboy Estrada had an equally terrific offensive showcase: game-high 23 markers, 8 boards, 3 dimes, and 3 steals.
For Perpetual, their one-two punch tandem of Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz starred with 16 and 10 points, respectively.
OCTOBER 17, 2025
EAC won over Arellano, 84-73.
Wilmar Oftana is, without a doubt, the best-shooting big man in the NCAA.
Wilmar Oftana detonated five threes en route to a team-high 19 points as the EAC Generals rolled past the Arellano Chiefs.
It was a welcome scene for Coach Jerson Cabiltes who was lamenting their prior back-to-back losses in the hands of Letran and San Beda.
Oftana, a proud son of Sarangani, emerged as the game’s best player, scattering his 19 markers with maximum efficiency in only 18 minutes of play.
Brianne Angeles was also a prized contributor with 15 points on 6-of-7 field goal shooting, while lefty scorer Jude Bagay and big man Jacob Shanoda chipped in 12 and 11.
Renzo Abiera led Arellano’s charge with a game-high 23 points. Talented guard T-Mc Ongotan pulled down 13 points in the losing cause.
San Beda won over Mapúa, 79-70.
Rookie sensation Janti Miller is a certified scorer.
Janti Miller’s outstanding scoring was again on full display in San Beda’s statement win against reigning champions Mapúa.
He fired 20 points on an efficient 65% field goal shooting, making flashy plays look easy and confusing Mapúa’s defense all throughout.
Miller later admitted that he had the Mapúa tussle particularly marked on his calendar after a preseason game where he struggled to escape the Cardinals’ defense.
Nygel Gonzales also made his presence felt, racking up 11 points, 6 boards, and 2 dimes, while Jomel Puno had an all-around showing with a 9-6-4 stat line.
The Red Lions were in control for most of the game, leading by as big as 19 at some point in the second frame.
Cyrus Cuenco top-scored for the Cardinals with 13 points, while rookie gunner EJ Sapasap had 11 and top recruit Cyril Gonzales had 10.
OCTOBER 18, 2025
Perpetual won over JRU, 71-65.
John Abis scores almost a point per minute of play for Perpetual.
Team captain John Abis played big time for Coach Olsen Racela and the Altas, giving Perpetual a lift through his 17 points and 7 boards in only 18 minutes of action.
Despite a late rally from the Heavy Bombers, Abis made sure to unleash momentum-grabbing baskets as the Perpetualites got the better of their endgame exchange.
Sophomore star Mark Gojo Cruz contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds, while JP Boral added 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The Altas outrebounded and outplayed the Heavy Bombers, taking the advantage both in rebounds (41-33) and assists (19-12).
JRU’s Sean-Shawn combo led the charge for the Heavy Bombers in the losing effort, scoring 18 and 14, respectively.
Letran won over LPU, 95-93.
Jonathan Manalili delivers the second triple-double outing in Season 101, and only the fourth in the NCAA in 7 years.
Jonathan Moses Manalili has always been the wonder boy of Coach Allen Ricardo since their championship-laden partnership with the Squires.
Good news for the Knights: Manalili is fitting right into that mold again– now as a collegiate star in a stacked Letran team.
The rookie sensation delivered 13 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists, and 2 steals to steer the Knights to their third consecutive win after a forgettable 0-3 hole at the start of the season.
Their well-oiled offensive proved to be too much even for the still winless but dangerous LPU in a gritty overtime finish.
Team captain John ‘Ato’ Barba gathered his troops and led Coach Gilbert Malabanan’s ships with 24 big points, while veteran guard Renz Villegas added 20, but ultimately could not escape their fifth demise in #NCAA101.
OCTOBER 19, 2025
EAC won over San Sebastian, 86-71.
Jude Bagay is in tip top shape. And he could be a legitimate problem for defenders in the games to come.
The Davao pride dropped 17 points on an efficient 64% field goal shooting, doing heavy damage in the paint where he thrived like a natural.
Jude Bagay used to play as a big in pocket leagues in his hometown, and so he carries the fundamentals of a center while also having the speed of a 6-foot-2 wing, continuing to prove that he can be a matchup problem in the NCAA.
Wilmar Oftana was ‘Mr. All-Around’ for Coach Jerson Cabiltes and the Generals, padding the stat sheet with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.
As for the Golden Stags, Jhuniel Dela Rama had himself another monster double-double in the losing cause, collecting 20 points and hauling in 15 boards.
Arellano won over Benilde, 72-67.
The ‘c’ in T-Mc stands for career-high. Or clutch. Or crazy.
Call it what you will, the Bulan, Sorsogon native is making a compelling case for #NCAA101's best hooper.
Days after a historic triple-double, T-Mc Ongotan dropped an NCAA career-best 28 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 4 steals as he willed Arellano to a stunning upset of Group B favorites Benilde.
Arellano turned up gun-slinging and stunned the Liwag-less Blazers, exploding for 7 triples while limiting their foes to only 1-of-18 shooting from long distance.
Yuan Camay and Mav Vinoya also had all-around productivity for the Chiefs, tallying 7-3-4 and 6-5-5, respectivey.
Justine Sanchez had a team-high 16 points for Benilde, while Tony Ynot, Gab Cometa, and Shawn Umali added 13, 12, and 12 in the losing effort.
