According to Jose Rizal University athletic director Paul Supan, the new format of the NCAA Season 101 for basketball and volleyball is “a need for innovation” during the Forum of the Philippine Sportswriters Association at the Rizal Memorial Complex today, September 30.
The 3rd Change of Tournament Format in the last 101 Years
As per Athletic Director Paul Supan, the reason for the change of the tournament format that the NCAA has been using for the last 25 years is called “a need for innovation.”
“For the first 75 years ng NCAA ang format natin is Round Champion. So for the first 75 years, it was then proposed na from 1997, then it was approved in 1999, nagsimula na ang Final Four. “
The format of the Round Champion, which was the 1st ever tournament format used in NCAA basketball, was implemented from 1924.
Then, a new idea was pitched in 1997, which is the most famous Final Four tournament, wherein the Top 4 teams after a double elimination round will play the Semifinals. The Top 2 teams in the Final Four category have a twice-to-win advantage against the #3 and #4 teams.
“Then, 25 years later, we found a need for innovation. Siyempre ever evolving yan, the game is ever evolving whether the coaching style, playing style and the style of the tournament.”
The Final Four format was then implemented starting in 1999, the 75th season of the league, they implemented their 2nd tournament format.
Now, 25 years later, a new format has been introduced in order to give fans something to be excited about.
“To me the way I see it, every game is a big game. Parang you cannot sit and sleep thinking na, ‘kaya ko to, kaya ko to.’ Each Phases has a different looks eh so that’s how we see it, it’s going to be exciting.”
The new tournament format has 5 new stages in which basketball teams must familiarize themselves.
- Elimination Round (13 Games per team)
- Play-In
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinals
- Finals
Here are the groups
GROUP A
- Mapúa University
- Lyceum of the Philippines University
- University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
- San Sebastian College-Recoletos
- Arellano University
GROUP B
- College of Saint Benilde
- San Beda University
- Colegio de San Juan de Letrán
- Jose Rizal University
- Emilio Aguinaldo College
- GROUP ELIMINATION STAGE – Teams in their respective groups will battle twice, making it a “Double Round Robin” format, which will also feature playing against universities in the other group once. Each school will have a total of 13 games in its schedule.
- PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT AND QUARTERFINALS BERTH – After 13 games, the Top 3 teams from each group will automatically advance in the quarterfinals based on their win-loss record and quotient. The 2 remaining teams in each group will then battle again, making it the “Play-In Tournament”. Whoever wins will complete the Top 4 teams in each group.
- QUARTERFINALS – The #1 teams in Groups A and B will face the #4 teams in opposing groups. The #2 teams will play against the #3 teams of the opposing groups as well. Teams that are #1 and #2 in both groups will have a twice-to-beat advantage.
- SEMIFINALS – The Semis will be a Best-of-Three series
- FINALS – The winners of the semifinals will also play a Best-of-Three championship series, while the losers will face off against a 1-game bronze match.
Supan then added that teams might thrive in their respective groups but may find harder competition in the opposing Group or vice versa.
“Maganda eh, maaring nangunguna ka ngayon, [then] after 3 or 4 games you’ll meet the other group. Diba pwedeng swerte doon.”
Preparation for International Tournament Formats
Athletic Director Paul Supan then added that this new format will help their student athletes not be surprised at the groupings being implemented by international leagues like FIBA.
“We are also preparing our students, diba nga grassroots tayo, na one day kapag at the international scene its not really different. So ngayon, magkakaroon tayo ng draw lots, diba nakikita natin sa FIBA yan? Nakikita natin sa mga international. So doon palang may excitement nang nadadala.”
A Different Grouping for Volleyball
The sport of volleyball will also adopt this new tournament format, but clarified to the media that different pairings or groupings will occur and that the teams in Groups A and B of basketball will only stay there.
“So sa tanong niya, kung ang division of teams similar ngayon sa basketball and volleyball, no. The groupings of volleyball will be determined based on their rankings the previous season. So we will have another draw lots.”
He clarified that the rankings in Season 100 will have an effect in the draw lots and group assignments.
The Top 4 teams last season in volleyball were: Benilde Lady Blazers, Letran Lady Knights, Arellano Lady Chiefs, and Mapua Lady Cardinals.
This meant that Benilde and Letran CANNOT be in the same group as the Lady Blazers ended the elims as the #1 seed and the Lady Knights as the #2 team.
Then, the remaining 6 teams will be assigned to their designated group through a draw.
Elimination Record in Season 101 has an Effect in Season 102 Onwards
Supan then reminded everyone that whatever the final record a team will have after the elimination round will be a determining factor in the groupings and draw lots in Season 102, as well as moving forward.
“Sa basketball the following year, in Season 102, yung ranking naman ng Top 4 ngayong 101 sila ang seeded #1 and #2 sa A, #1 and #2 sa B then the remaining 6 teams, idra-drawlots natin. So sana suportahan natin.”
He then asked everyone to support the upcoming season opener which is set on October 1 at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“So the success of this new format depends sa ating lahat. If that is the key to make the games more exciting without changing so much on the rules on how it is played, then we hope this tournament format will stay for us for a long time.”
