LETRAN sets in motion its campaign for a second consecutive championship against host College of Saint Benilde as the 97th National Colleg Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament tips off on Saturday at the La Salle Greenhills Gym.
The Knights and the Blazers, now handled by Charles Tiu, collide at 3:30 p.m. right after the hour-long opening ceremony.
San Beda begins its quest for redemption as it takes on Lyceum of the Philippines University, with Gilbert Malabanan making his collegiate coaching debut in the second game at 7:05 p.m.
Both matches will be aired on the league’s new television carrier GTV (GMA-7).
The NCAA will also hold women’s volleyball tournament, which will immediately start right after the men’s basketball event, as well as online taekwondo and chess events.
After a two-year hiatus, NCAA Season 97 Management Committee chairman Dax Castellano of Saint Benilde is looking forward for the staging of the face-to-face tournaments.
“I would like to honor the CHED [Commission on Higher Education] for preparing and guiding us,” said Castellano during Saturday’s media launch at the GMA Network Studio 6. “I’m very sure it will be a successful and entertaining competition.”
Other marquee games in men’s basketball is a Season 95 Finals rematch between San Beda and Letran at 12 noon on April 12, Letran and Lyceum, which met in the Season 95 second step-ladder semifinals at 3 p.m. on April 17, and San Sebastian and Letran, which squared off in the Season 95 first step-ladder semis on April 26 at 3 p.m.
Tournament format calls for single-round eliminations, veering away from the traditional double-round robin for this season.
“We agreed on a single-round format because this is a challenging time,” Castellano said. “We have four phases, the eliminations, play-in, semifinals and Finals. We are prepared for it.”
The top two teams after the elimination round will make it to the semifinals outright.
Giving more excitement is the play-in format which will determine the other two semifinals that will involve teams which will finish from third to sixth spots after the eliminations.
“We give chances the No. 5 and 6 teams to make it to the semifinals,” Castellano said.
In the play-in, the fifth- and sixth-ranked teams will cross paths in a do-or-die game, with the winner facing the loser of the match-up between third- and fourth-ranked squad, to determine the last semifinalist.
The winner of the No. 3-No. 4 showdown will make it to the semifinals. The top two teams in the semifinals earn twice-to-beat incentives. Ties for the No. 6 spot in the play-in, Castellano said, will be determined via FIBA quotient.
Fans and cheering squads are prohibited at the Mandaluyong venue as the NCAA is holding its men’s basketball tournament in a bubble.
With the country’s health situation getting better as of late, Castellano is not discounting the possibility of having an audience in the crucial stage of the season.
“Should our situation improves further, games for the semifinals and Finals could move to bigger venues and potentially with fans,” he said.
Also present during the media launch were Management Commitee members Peter Cayco of Arellano University, Herc Callanta of Lyceum, Atty. Jonas Cabochan of San Beda, Estefanio Boquiron Jr. of Emilion Aguinaldo College, Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran, Paul Supan of Jose Rizal University, Fr. Glynn Ortega of San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Frank Gusi of Perpetual Help, along with GMA Regional TV and Synergy First Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso.