As the curtain fell on the NCAA’s centennial season, Mapua University now steps into the spotlight as the host of NCAA Season 101.
Building on the momentum set by its Intramuros neighbor, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Mapua aims to bring new innovations to the league — including a revamped tournament format and a brand-new league logo.
The opening of NCAA Season 101 is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, with the Smart Araneta Coliseum also penciled in as the venue.
However, due to venue constraints. the league was compelled to move the start of the season to October.
The Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena will serve as main hubs for the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2025, while other smaller venues such as Playtime Filoil Centre, Philsports Arena, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, and Ninoy Aquino Stadium are set to be used as training facilities.
To still meet a December finish, the NCAA will introduce a new tournament format for both basketball and volleyball.
“Gagawa kami ng kakaibang tournament format na pinaghalo yung NBA at US NCAA,” said NCAA Season 101 Management Committee Chairman Melchor Divina during the league’s closing ceremony, Tuesday at Bayleaf Hotel Intramuros.
Under this new format, the 10 member schools will be divided into two groups for the first round. In the second round, the top teams from each group will face off against the lower-ranked teams from the opposite group.
The fourth and fifth-ranked teams in each group will then battle in a play-in match to determine the final slot in the quarterfinals.
Yes, the postseason will now feature the top eight teams in both basketball and volleyball.
The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are tentatively set to be best-of-three series.
To mark the beginning of a new century for the Grand Old League, the NCAA will also unveil a new logo, selected through a logo-making contest.
“Siguro, isa sa mga magiging kakaibang dating is we changed the logo of the NCAA. Fina-finetune na lang natin,” added Divina.
