By: Waylon Galvez
Fresh off a triumphant NCAA campaign that ended a decades-long title drought, Mapúa University is setting its sights on another championship as it kicks off its campaign in the Pinoyliga Next Man cUP Season 3, starting today at Enderun Colleges Gym in Taguig City.
Mapúa secured the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball title on December 7, 2024, sweeping College of St. Benilde in the best-of-three finals. It marked the Cardinals’ sixth NCAA championship and their first in 33 years, with their last titles coming back-to-back seasons in 1990 and 1991.
Now, the focus shifts to the Next Man cUP.
This tournament serves as a platform for participating teams to showcase their Team B players and those serving residency, giving them a chance to prove their potential before being promoted to the main roster.
Mapúa will face New Era University in the main event of a triple-header at 6 p.m. The tournament opener at 2 p.m. features San Beda University against Enderun Colleges, followed by Lyceum of the Philippines University taking on Guang Ming College at 4 p.m.
Mapúa head coach Randy Alcantara sees the tournament as more than just an opportunity to scout talent—it’s also an early preparation for NCAA Season 101, as the team will be without two key graduating players: guard Joaqui Garcia and forward Aaron Fermin.
“This gives us a head start in evaluating players who might move up to Team A. We have two open spots, but that doesn’t guarantee our holdovers from the championship team a place on the roster. We have at least five players who are very capable of helping us next season,” said Alcantara, who was part of Mapúa’s 1990 and 1991 NCAA title-winning teams.
“We’ll definitely go all out in this tournament. We want the players to take this seriously because we’re closely evaluating their performances,” he added.
The five players Alcantara referred to are Cyril Gonzales, Ivan Lazarte, Cyrus Nitura, Drex de los Reyes, and Joemakio Gulapa.
A total of 15 teams will compete in the Next Man cUP, divided into two groups.
The Prime Group consists of Mapúa, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, LPU, and St. Dominic College of Asia. Meanwhile, the Edge Group features UAAP champion University of the Philippines, San Beda, Lyceum, Enderun, Guang Ming, and defending Next Man cUP Season 2 champion CSB.
The tournament is presented by Shawarma Shack and supported by Smart, Kick-Start Coffee, Amelie Hotel, Eastern Communications, LGR, Enderun Colleges, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. Tournament director Benny Benitez of Prime Edge Marketing Consultancy and Pinoyliga.com oversees the competition.
