In the men's tournament, the Mapúa Cardinals finished first in the elimination round for the first time in the Final Four era. The Cardinals then defeated last season's finalists Benilde Blazers in the semifinals. The Lyceum Pirates finished second, but lost all two semifinals games to the San Beda Red Lions. The Blazers then defeated Lyceum in the first third place playoff in NCAA history. In the finals, the Red Lions denied the Cardinals their first title since 1991 to win their 23rd title.
In the juniors' tournament, the Perpetual Junior Altas finished first in the elimination round for the first time in school history. In the semifinals, the Junior Altas defeated the Malayan Red Robins to qualify to the finals for the first time, while the defending champions Letran Squires eliminated the San Sebastian Staglets. The Red Robins then defeated San Sebastian in the third place playoff. In the finals, the Squires defeated the Junior Altas to win their second consecutive title.
In the inaugural kiddies' tournament, the Arellano Braves defeated the San Beda Red Cubs in the final; both teams ended the elimination round tied for first.
Tournament format
The NCAA is expected to follow the Final Four format used since 1997.
Tonichi Pujante was reappointed basketball commissioner.[1]
Just as in the past two seasons, men's gamedays are held five days a week, with doubleheaders on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and tripleheaders on Sundays.[2]
For the juniors' tournament, it is a single round robin, followed by the Final Four playoffs. Game are held every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with each gameday having all 10 teams compete.[4]
The top 2 teams had the twice-to-beat advantage, where the top 2 teams have to be beaten twice, while their opponents just once, to progress.
(1) Mapúa vs. (4) Benilde
The Mapúa Cardinals clinched a semifinals appearance and the twice-to-beat advantage.[17] The Cardinals returned to the playoffs after missing out last year.[18] The Cardinals also clinched their first #1 seed in school history.[19] The Benilde Blazers also clinched a semifinals appearance despite losing their last elimination round game.[20]
The Lyceum Pirates clinched a semifinals appearance.[21] The Pirates later clinched the twice-to-beat advantage.[22] With the Cardinals winning in their last elimination round game, the San Beda Red Lions also clinched a semifinals appearance.[19]
The Mapúa Cardinals return to the Finals after losing to Letran in NCAA Season 97.[23] The San Beda Red Lions qualify to the Finals for the 16th time, and for the first time since NCAA Season 95. This shall also be the first time the two teams will meet in the Finals since NCAA Season 67 (1991), where the Cardinals won on a Benny Cheng game-winner in Game 3.[24]
The awards were handed out prior to Game 2 of the Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. A new award for true college freshmen, the "Freshman of the Year" was instituted. The original Rookie of the Year award is still given to the best player playing in his first season in the NCAA, who may not always be a freshman.[25]
Most Valuable Player: Clint Escamis(Mapúa Cardinals)
Jielo Razon of the Perpetual Altas for being called for an unsportsmanlike foul against the San Sebastian Stags on their last game of Season 98. Served one-game suspension on their first game of Season 99 against the EAC Generals.[36]
Three referees of the first round game between JRU and Benilde were suspended for two weeks due to "failure to execute sound judgement, inefficient use of the Instant Replay System review, as well as for ceasing to assert themselves as game officials". JL delos Santos was supposed to be suspended due to an unsportsmanlike foul on this game, but commissioner Tonichi Pujante reversed the unsportsmanlike foul (and the suspension that goes with it) against the former as his elbow "did not connect" with Benilde's Mark Sangco.[37]
The top two seeds will have the twice-to-beat advantage against the lower-seeded teams, where the higher-seeded teams have to be beaten twice, while their opponents just once, to be eliminated.
The Perpetual Junior Altas clinched their first semifinal appearance since 2010.[43] Letran, Mapua and San Sebastian rounded up the semifinalists.[44]
(1) Perpetual vs. (4) Malayan
Perpetual clinched the top seed on their final elimination round game against San Sebastian.[45] After losing against also-ran San Beda, Malayan settled for the #4 seed.[46]
Letran clinched the #2 seed by winning their final elimination game against LSGH in a finals rematch from last season. They shall face San Sebastian, which had lost against Perpetual earlier in the day and settled for the #3 seed.[46] This semifinal is the latest juniors' playoff meeting of the San Sebastian–Letran rivalry.
The Letran Squires qualified to their second consecutive finals, while the Perpetual Junior Altas qualified to their first finals since joining the NCAA in 1984.[47]
Source: [citation needed] Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win. Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.
