Two seasoned commissioners will take charge during the upcoming collegiate season, set to tip-off on March 26.
De La Salle University has appointed Tonichi Pujante as the commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament. Meanwhile, College of Saint Benilde has named Bai Cristobal as the commissioner of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Season 97 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Multiple league insiders confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
Pujante was the NCAA’s commissioner during its 95th season.
A product of La Salle Green Hills and Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Pujante is also an organizer of the One La Salle Alumni Basketball League and former coach of LSGH and Perpetual.
Pujante was also the first-ever commissioner of the Vietnam Basketball Association.
During UAAP Season 81, he was the deputy commissioner of Junel Baculi.
He takes the place of Jensen Ilagan.
Cristobal, meanwhile, succeeds Pujante as NCAA commissioner.
The product of Unibersidad de Zamboanga and Far Eastern University was the commissioner of the league in Seasons 90, 91, 93, and 94.
Cristobal also coached San Sebastian, Perpetual, and Lyceum in the past.
Tournament Format
UAAP Season 84 has the theme of “Fully Alive, Champions For Life.” It will play its games every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with four games each gameday.
The UAAP will still follow a double round-robin format for the elimination round and the final four setup for its playoffs. The top two seeds will hold a twice-to-beat advantage. Meanwhile, the finals will still be a best-of-three.
NCAA Season 97, which has the theme of “Stronger Together. Buo ang Puso”, will have a five gamedays a week calendar (Wednesday-Sunday). Two games will take place during each gameday.
The NCAA will only hold a single round-robin tournament with a play-in.
The third- and fourth-ranked teams will face off after the regular season to determine the third seed. The loser of the game will face the winner of the bout between the fifth and sixth-ranked schools to determine the fourth seed.
Just like in the UAAP, the top two seeds will have the playoff incentive. The finals is a best-of-three.
