NCAA basketball championships (Philippines) explained

Pixels:164px
Sport:Basketball
Founded:1924
Teams:10
Champion:San Bed Red Lions (Seniors)
Letran Squires (Juniors)
Most Champs:San Beda (46, overall)
San Beda Red Lions (23, seniors')
San Beda Red Cubs (23, juniors')
Tv:GMA Network

The NCAA basketball championships are the basketball championships of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). There are two tournaments, usually held at the same time, the seniors' tournament for male collegiate students, and the juniors' tournament for male senior high school students. If a school wins both championships in one season, it said that they have won the "double championship."

The tournament commences with a double-round robin of eliminations, where the four teams with the best records advance to the semifinals, with the two top seeds clinching the twice-to-beat advantage. The winners in the semifinals meet in a best-of-3 finals series, in order to determine the champion.

The championship is continually contested since the NCAA's foundation in 1924, except during World War II, during the mid-1960s when scandals rocked the association, in 1980 when the tournament was aborted by the Basketball Association of the Philippines, and from 2020 to 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The athletic nicknames of the different teams variously came from the school's founders, or from a distinct quality that separated a school from the others.

Notably, the first champion of this event was crowned in 1925, 14 years before the U.S. NCAA tournament was instituted.

Tournament format

Since 1997, all member schools have fielded their varsity teams in a double round elimination tournament, where the schools play each other twice. The four teams with the best records advance to the crossover semifinals, popularly known as the Final Four.

The two top teams have a twice to beat advantage. The lower ranked teams need to win twice against the higher ranked teams to advance to the best-of-three finals, where the first team to reach two wins becomes the NCAA basketball champion.

Tie-breakers

Group stage sweep

If any event a team finishes the group stage undefeated, that team will advance outright to the finals. The third and fourth seeds will have a sudden-death game to determine the opponent of the second seed. Then, the winner of the sudden-death match between the second seed and third/fourth seed advances to the finals to face the first seed. Previously, the first seed holds a twice to beat advantage in the finals (the finals would not be a best of three affair), until 2008, the finals was in a best-of-three series even if a team swept the group stage. Since 2010 the team who sweeps the group stage will automatically go to the finals with a thrice-to-beat advantage and a 1-0 edge over their opponent, their opponent needs to beat them thrice while the team who sweeps the 2-round elimination will just have to beat their opponents twice.

Previous formats

Prior to 1997, when the NCAA had, for most part of its history, six teams, it employed a split season format. The winner of the first round (the team with the highest standing) would notch the first Final berth, while the winner of the second round would notch the second Final berth.

If a team manages to have the best overall record, yet fails to win either round, that team will play the winner of the second round in a playoff game, to face the winner of the first round in the Championship game. The games of the Championship round are all single-elimination matches, until the 1980s when the Championship game was expanded to a best-of-three series.

If a team manages to win both rounds (not necessarily a sweep), the Championship round will be omitted, and that team will be declared outright champions.

In cases of tie, a playoff game will be played to determine which team won the round. If more than two teams are tied, each team will play the teams they are tied with once. If for example, a team won the first round, and is tied with another team for first place at the second round, a playoff game will be played to determine which team wins the round. If the team that won the first round wins in the playoff game, the Championship round will be omitted, since the team won both rounds. If the other team wins, a Championship round will held, since two different teams won the two rounds.

The 2021 tournament, held in early 2022, was in a special format used only for that season. There was only one round of eliminations, and a play-in tournament was held for teams that finished third to sixth; after that, the regular Final Four format was used.[1]

History

Some of the Letran team players were products of their Varsity High School Team namely: Ted McKinney, Ramon San Juan, William Alberto and were also part of the 1976 National Inter-Secondary Champion Team that was held in Baguio City wherein they beat their NCAA rival San Beda College with the score of 52-51It was a double victory for the Muralla-based cagers as they dominated in winning the Jrs and Srs NCAA Basketball Championship that year. They were also declared the General Champion by the NCAA Management for winning most of the events that the NCAA has provided. It was very sweet for the Knights for getting that award as it was their first time dominating all events.

NCAA basketball champions

See main article: List of NCAA Philippines basketball champions. Basketball, as the most popular sport in the Philippines, receives the most attention from the press and the sports-minded public. As a result, the NCAA Seniors Basketball championship is the most coveted title among the NCAA events.

San Beda has the most Seniors basketball title a record 22 times, followed by Colegio de San Juan de Letran with 20 and the Ateneo de Manila (now with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines) is third with 14.There is a separate division for high school student-athletes, the Juniors division. San Beda High School has the most titles with 23 while the Malayan High School of Science (formerly Mapúa High School) won 22.

San Beda University leads the overall tally with 45 basketball titles, followed by Letran with 33. Among defunct members, Ateneo has the most championships, with 23.

The current champions are the San Beda University Red Lions (seniors), and the Letran Squires (juniors).

Double Championships

When a school wins both the Juniors (or Midgets pre-1925) and Seniors tournament at the same season, the school is said to have won the double championship.

As of 2023, only seven schools were able to win the double championship:

Ateneo de Manila University, San Beda College and San Sebastian College-Recoletos have the most double championships with six apiece. San Beda College also has the most consecutive double championships with five.

Awards

Beginning in NCAA Season 98, the men's tournament was held from October to December, then the juniors' tournament from January to March the following year.

Most Valuable Players

Finals

Season Men Juniors
2000
2001 Chuck Ronquillo
2002 JV Casio
2003 Rogemar Menor
2004 Robert Sanz Rogemar Menor
2005 Eric Salamat
2006 Ryan Buenafe
2007 Ryan Buenafe
2008 Sam Ekwe Arvie Bringas
2009 Baser Amer
2010 Sudan Daniel Baser Amer
2011 Francis Abarcar
2012
2013 Arvin Tolentino
2014 Joshua Caracut
2015 Evan Nelle
2016 Arnaud Noah Bryan Samudio
2017 Donald Tankoua Joel Cagulangan
2018 Paolo Hernandez
2019 Fran Yu Rhayyan Amsali
2020 colspan=2
2021 Jeo Ambohot
2022 King Caralipio Andy Gemao
2023 James Payosing Moses Manalili

Rookie of the Year

Season Men Juniors
1994
1995 Jerome Barbosa
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000 Al Magpayo
2001 Ismael Junio Jay-R Reyes
2002 Julian Bermejo Elmer Espiritu
2003 Ronnie Bughao Jay-R Taganas
2004 Marko Batricevic
2005 Darell Green
2006 Sam Ekwe Jake Pascual
2007 Keith Agovida
2008 Allan Mangahas Jarelan Tampus
2009 Sudan Daniel Baser Amer
2010 Rey Nambatac
2011 Lugie Cuyas
2012 Cedric Noube Happi
2013 Jeric Adorio
2014 Dioncee Holts Raphael Chavez
2015 Alwell Oraeme Lars Sunga
2016 Mike Harry Nzeusseu Aaron Fermin
2017 Jaycee Marcelino Inand Fornilos
2018 Larry Muyang Jonnel Policarpio
2019 Jolo Manansala
2020 colspan=2
2021
2022 Cade Flores Matthew Rubico
2023 Clint Escamis Mark Gojo Cruz

Defensive Player of the Year

Season Men Juniors
2005 Darrel Green
2006 Samuel Ekwe Jake Pascual
2007 Keith Agovida
2008 Keith Agovida
2009 Sudan Daniel Louie Vigil
2010 Sudan Daniel Vincent Menguito
2011 Sidney Onwubere
2012 Enjerico Diego
2013 Paolo Rivero
2014 Joseph Gabayni John Winifred Gob
2015 Allwell Oraeme John Umali
2016 Allwell Oraeme Aaron Fermin
2017 Prince Eze Aaron Fermin
2018 Prince Eze Aaron Fermin
2019 Jonnel Policarpio
2020 colspan=2
2021
2022 Cade Flores George Diamante
Paul Enal
2023 Rommel Calahat Paul Enal

Most Improved Player

Season Men Juniors
2005 Paolo Guidaben
2006 Michael Dizon
2007 Christian dela Paz
2008
2009 Chris Javier
2010 Joe Etame Flash Sadiwa
2011 Francis Abarcar
2012 Justin Serrano
2013 Michael Mabulac Kobe Paras
2014 John Winifred Gob
2015 Maui Cruz
2016 Donald Tankoua Joshua Tagala
2017 Jed Mendoza Clint Escamis
Neil Villapando
2018 Archie Concepcion John Amores
2019 Fran Yu Yukien Andrada
2020 colspan=2
2021 Paolo Hernandez
2022 Shawn Umali Seven Gagate
2023 Jun Roque EJ Castillo

2020 was not held.

2021 season was played in early 2022.

2022 season was played in late 2022 for seniors' tournament, and early 2023 for juniors' tournament.

Scoring records

Lim Eng Beng of the De La Salle Green Archers currently holds the most points scored in an NCAA seniors' game when he scored 55 points in the 1974 season as he led De La Salle Green Archers to the championship. He scored an average of 32 points in that season which remains the all-time record in average points per game in Philippine Men's NCAA.[7]

In 2009, Joshua Saret of the Jose Rizal Light Bombers scored 89 points against Angeles University Foundation to shatter the all-time high mark set by ex-teammate Keith Agovida at 82 points on September 5, 2008, against Malayan Science HS.[8]

Prior to their record-breaking feats, Letran Squire Marlon Bola Bola held the single-game record of 71 points in 1970.[9]

Seniors' scoring leaders

Season Name Team Avg.
2002 20.3
2003 Ronald Capati 19.1
2004 Noy Javier 20.7
2005 Redentor Vicente
Leo Najorda (tie)

17.5
2006 Khiel Misa 16.6
2007 17.1
2008 14.7
2009 Argel Mendoza 20.9
2010 17.3
2011 20.6
2012 20.1
2013 23.3
2014 26.5
2015 19.7
2016 21.4
2017 25.8
2018 18.7
2019Allyn Bulanadi20.3
2021JM Calma16.9
2022 Will Gozum 17.2
2023Clint Escamis16.3
Notes:

a. 2021-22 season was played in early 2022.

Origin of team monikers

Memberships

TV coverage

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Li . Matthew . March 7, 2022 . Pujante tapped as UAAP 84 commissioner, Cristobal for NCAA 97 . March 8, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  2. http://www.inq7.net/spo/2003/oct/17/spo_25-1.htm/ NCAA Through Time (currently unavailable)
  3. History of the Ateneo de Manila University. 2005, 2006, 2007 Executive Planners. Published by the Ateneo de Manila University.
  4. Web site: See also . October 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070313181939/http://www.ncaa.org.ph/aboutncaa2.php . March 13, 2007 . dead .
  5. http://greenarcher.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13510 Blast from the Past
  6. NCAA Champions 1924 - 1976. Sports World. October 1–7, 1977. V. 36. 7. Sports World, Inc.. Quezon City.
  7. http://www.mindspring.com/~luckyshow/basketball/100pts.htm 100 point scorers
  8. Web site: Legaspi. Perry. July 22, 2009. Bombs away: JRU's Saret fires 89 points in NCAA jrs. April 9, 2021. GMA News Online.
  9. Web site: September 5, 2008. NCAA player scores 82, sets new RP basketball scoring record. April 9, 2021. ABS-CBN News.
  10. Web site: June 2005. The association of Extraordinary Players. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080616013604/http://thelance.letran.edu/jun2005/f1_jun2005.htm. June 16, 2008. April 9, 2021. The LANCE. Colegio de San Juan de Letran.