Mapua University will begin its NCAA seniors basketball title defense against last season’s host, Lyceum of the Philippines University, on October 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 PM, while the league’s 101st season opening ceremony will start at 11:00 AM.
Later that day, a blockbuster Group B matchup between College of Saint Benilde and San Beda University is set for 5:00 PM, promising an early test of championship mettle.
The juniors’ games featuring all four schools will be held the following day at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Juniors basketball champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA will open its title defense on Friday, October 3, against San Sebastian College-Recoletos at 8:30 a.m.
A revamped Letran Squires team, led by Andwele Cabanero, Jhello Lumague, and Travis Pascual, will debut at 5:00 PM against Jose Rizal University.
Games this season will be held every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, with juniors’ matchups tipping off at 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, while seniors take the court at 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM.
Most games will be held at the San Juan Arena, while some games will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The MOA games are on October 10, featuring Lyceum vs. Perpetual Help and San Sebastian vs. Arellano; October 11, headlined by San Beda vs. Letran at 11:00 AM, followed by JRU vs. EAC at 2:30 PM; October 28, with Arellano vs. Letran and Perpetual Help vs. San Beda; and November 9, when Mapua takes on Arellano and Lyceum faces San Sebastian.
(C) Dennis Abrina/UPHSD
Meanwhile, the November 4 and November 5 games will be played at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The finals rematch between Perpetual and La Salle Green Hills is set for November 4 at 8:30 AM.
(C) Mags Reyes
For the first time, the league has divided the teams into two groups.
Group A is headlined by Mapua, alongside Lyceum, Perpetual Help, San Sebastian, and Arellano University.
Group B is stacked with Benilde, San Beda, Letran, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and JRU.
The opening round will close on October 14, featuring a double-header with Benilde facing Letran at 11:00 AM, followed by San Beda and EAC at 2:30 PM.
Crossover matches run from October 15 to November 5.
Among the marquee clashes for this stage are Mapua taking on JRU on October 24 at 2:30 PM; Mapua facing San Beda the following day; and San Sebastian meeting EAC on November 4.
The Finals rematch between Benilde and Mapua is scheduled for October 29 at 11:00 AM.
The second round-robin of the group phase runs from November 7 to November 19.
Benilde squares off with San Beda on November 8 at 11:00 AM; San Beda faces Letran on November 16; and the group phase concludes with Letran battling Benilde on November 19 at 11:00 AM.
The play-in games are set for November 21 at the Filoil Centre.
