| 1991 NCAA season | |
| Host: | San Beda College |
| Higherseed: | |
| Higherseed Game1: | 103 |
| Higherseed Game2: | 94 |
| Higherseed Game3: | 91 |
| Higherseed Series: | 2 |
| Lowerseed Game1: | 94 |
| Lowerseed Game2: | 100 |
| Lowerseed Game3: | 90 |
| Lowerseed Series: | 1 |
| Duration: | October 9–16, 1991 |
| Network: | Islands TV 13 |
| Prevlink: | NCAA Season 66 basketball tournaments |
| Prev: | 66 |
| Seasonlink: | NCAA Season 67 |
| Year: | 1991 |
| Nextlink: | NCAA Season 68 basketball tournaments |
| Next: | 68 |
| Jarena: | ULTRA |
| Jduration: | October 9–16, 1991 |
| Jhigherseed Game2: | 89 |
| Jhigherseed Game3: | 60 |
| Jhigherseed Series: | 1 |
| Jlowerseed Game1: | 93 |
| Jlowerseed Game2: | 80 |
| Jlowerseed Game3: | 79 |
| Jlowerseed Series: | 2 |
| Jhigherseed Game1: | 75 |
| Jlowerseed: | |
| Jcoach: | Ato Badolato |
The 1991 NCAA basketball tournament was the 67th season in the Philippine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The season opens on August 3 at the Araneta Coliseum and ended on October 16 with the Mapua Cardinals winning back-to-back championships in the Seniors division and won their 5th NCAA crown.
Format:
No other team had a better cumulative record than the two pennant winners, so playoff for the Finals berth was not played.Mapua Cardinals wins the second round flag and forces a best-of-three title playoffs with first round winner San Beda College by downing the Red Lions on the last day of the eliminations on October 2.[1]
In Game 1, Mapua had their biggest lead at 96-81 with 3:20 remaining. But the Red Lions' unlikely trio of Reynaldo Dionisio, Cornelio Manucat and last year's junior MVP Vincent Largo put San Beda to within 90-96 in the last 1:43. A triple by Olegario Topacio which beat the shotclock and two free throws by Reuben dela Rosa got the Cardinals off the hook.[2]
With reserves Cornelio Manucat, Reynaldo Dionisio, Renato Morano and Jose Ramil Espina thrown into the limelight of championship action, the Red Lions broke away at 91-78 in the last 2:25 of Game 2. A 14-4 Mapua counter triggered by Olegario Topacio and Winchester Lemen put the Cardinals to within 92-95 in the last 45 seconds.[3]
Cardinal slotman Benito Cheng beat all rebounders for a follow-up in the final five seconds of Game 3 and an awry pass spoiled the Red Lions' last offensive. There was no San Beda timeout and what ensued was a quick inbound to Cornelio Manucat who dribbled toward the centerline before issuing a breast-pass to a streaking Reynaldo Dionisio. The pass was too strong and a bit high, lipping Dionisio's fingertips before going out of bounds with a stream of Mapua supporters entering the court at the buzzer.[4]
The San Beda Red Cubs won Game 1 off the heroics of Tyrone Bautista, Emerson Roque and Cesar Tolentino, who combined for 53 points. The Red Robins tied the series on Game 2. On the deciding Game 3, Bautista led the Red Cubs anew, winning back-to-back titles.