The National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines is ushering in a new century with a revamped tournament format.
On Friday, the Grand Old League’s Management Committee conducted the official draw for the group stage of its basketball tournaments — marking a historic change for the 101-year-old league.
The draw was presided over by newly appointed league commissioner Atty. Rico Quicho and held by this season’s host school, Mapúa University.
Defending seniors’ basketball champion Mapúa headlines Group A, joined by Lyceum of the Philippines University, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and Arellano University.
Group B, dubbed the “Pool of Death,” features perennial contenders College of Saint Benilde, San Beda University, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran, alongside Jose Rizal University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Last season, the Cardinals swept the Blazers in the Finals.
The tournament will now unfold across five phases.
The group stage will feature a double-round robin within each group while also facing teams from the other group once, for a total of 13 elimination-round games.
The top three teams from each group will advance directly to Phase 3 — the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the bottom two teams from each group will battle in Phase 2, the Play-In Round, for a chance to secure the fourth and final quarterfinal slot.
In the crossover quarterfinals, the top seed of each group will face the fourth seed from the opposing group, while the second-ranked teams will take on the third seeds from the other group. The top two seeds will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage.
Quarterfinal winners will move on to the best-of-three semifinals — Phase 4.
The victors in the semis will face each other in the last phase, the best-of-three final, while the losers will square off in the one-game battle for third.
The juniors’ basketball tournament will adopt the same format and will now be played in the first semester.
NCAA Season 101 officially tips off on October 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with most games to be staged at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
