The NCAA Season 94 basketball tournaments are the 94th basketball season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA are the season hosts. Separate men's and juniors' tournaments are held for male college and high school students, respectively.
Format In the seniors and juniors' tournament, ten (10) teams will play in a double round-robin classification. Once teams are tied, tie-breaker games shall be held for the top four seeds, if necessary. The scenarios after the elimination round ends are the following below: If no team sweeps the elimination round, the regular playoffs (Final Four) shall be used. If a team successfully sweep the elimination round, that team will gain an automatic bye to the finals and the stepladder playoffs shall be used. In the semifinals, the first and second seed shall earn a twice-to-beat bonus against their respective opponents. These teams shall only need to win once to advance to the finals; while the third and fourth seed teams will need to win twice to advance to the finals. In the stepladder semifinals, the third and fourth seed will play to determine which among them will face the second seed, The winner of the game against the second seed will meet the first seed in the finals. The finals is a best-of-three championship series. Tie-breaker classification rules Head-to-head matchup in the two (2) rounds Goal average between the tied teams Overall goal average Bai Cristobal was reappointed basketball commissioner for the second consecutive season.
Teams +Men's teamsTeamCollegeCoachArellano ChiefsArellano University (AU) Junjie AblanLetran KnightsColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Jeff NapaBenilde BlazersDe La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Ty TangEAC GeneralsEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Ariel SisonJRU Heavy BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Vergel MenesesLyceum PiratesLyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Topex RobinsonMapúa CardinalsMapúa University (MU) Atoy CoSan Beda Red LionsSan Beda University (SBU) Boyet FernandezSan Sebastian StagsSan Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC-R) Edgar MacarayaPerpetual AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Frankie Lim +Juniors' teamsTeamHigh schoolCoachArellano BravesArellano University (AU) Tylon DarjuanLetran SquiresColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Raymund ValenzonaEAC-IAC BrigadiersImmaculate Concepcion Academy (IAC) Marvin BienvenidaJRU Light BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Azlie GuroLa Salle Green Hills GreeniesLa Salle Green Hills (LSGH) Vic LazaroLyceum Junior PiratesLyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite (LPU-C) LA MumarMapúa Red RobinsMalayan High School of Science (MHSS) Randy AlcantaraSan Beda Red CubsSan Beda University Rizal (SBUR) JB SisonSan Sebastian StagletsSan Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC-R) Mel BanuaPerpetual Junior AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Myk Saguiguit
Name changes
San Beda College was granted university status by the Commission on Higher Education on February 6, 2018; thereafter renamed to as "San Beda University".
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date Replaced by DatePerpetual Altas Nosa Omorogbe On indefinite leave September 2017 Frankie Lim January 17, 2018Arellano Chiefs Jerry CodiñeraResignationSeptember 20, 2018 Junjie AblanSeptember 20, 2018
Venues
Like most Metro Manila-centric leagues, most games are held in arenas rented by the league, with games serving as neutral venues. In an innovation dubbed as "NCAA on Tour", starting in the previous season, the NCAA will continue holding Thursday games hosted at the campus of one of the teams that are playing on that day.
Main venues Arena CityMall of Asia Arena PasayFiloil Flying V Centre San Juan
NCAA on Tour venues Arena Host team CityJose Rizal University Gym JRU Heavy Bombers MandaluyongArellano University Gym Arellano Chiefs ManilaEmilio Aguinaldo College Gym EAC Generals ManilaColegio de San Juan de Letran Gym Letran Knights ManilaUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA Gym Perpetual Altas Las Piñas
Squads
Each NCAA team can have up to 15 players on their roster. At least two is allowed to be a foreigner, but only one is allowed to be on court. A team is allowed to have three additional players in the reserve list. The opening day rosters were released on July 1.
Imports The following are the imports, or non-Filipinos included in the opening day rosters: Team Import Country Elie Ongolo Ongolo Clement Leutcheu Hamadou Laminou Mike Harry Nzeusseu Donald Tankoua Eugene Toba Prince Eze Letran, JRU, Mapua and San Sebastian chose not to have imports for this season. Only two teams have won championships with no imports in its roster since 2006 (Letran 2015 and San Sebastian 2009). San Beda 2011 had an import in the lineup but did not play the entire season.
Men's tournament Elimination round Team standings
Scores Results on top and to the right of the dashes are for first-round games; those to the bottom and to the left of it are second-round games.
Match-up results
Bracket
Semifinals San Beda and Lyceum have the twice-to-beat advantage; they only need to win once, while their opponents twice, to advance to the finals. San Beda is in its 13th consecutive playoffs appearance (skipping the semifinals in 2010 after winning all elimination round games), Lyceum is in its first semifinals appearance (having advanced to the Finals outright last year). Letran is returning to the semifinals after a 2-year absence, while Perpetual returns after its last appearance in 2016.
(1) San Beda vs. (4) Perpetual San Beda has the twice-to-beat advantage. San Beda has won all but one of its semifinals match-ups with Perpetual since the Final Four era, with Perpetual winning in 2004, but losing in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Prior to the game, Perpetual's wins, and its playoffs appearance, were in danger of being forfeited as several of its players played in a ligang labas game while serving residency. The league sternly reprimanded the team as it found out that the players represented a school-based team, which is allowed by the league rules. San Beda pulled away late in the third quarter with four three-pointers by AC Soberano transformed a 1-point Altas lead to an 11-point lead for the Red Lions early in the fourth quarter. The Red Lions qualified to their 13th consecutive NCAA Finals.
(2) Lyceum vs. (3) Letran Lyceum has the twice-to-beat advantage. This is the first match-up between Lyceum and Letran in the playoffs. Lyceum pulled away in the middle of the third quarter after Letran's JP Calvo injured his right ankle after contesting a loose ball with Mike Nzeusseu. Lyceum had a 15–0 run after Calvo's injury and led by as much 37 points.
Finals This will be the second consecutive meeting between San Beda and Lyceum in the Finals. The Red Lions defeated the Pirates in 2017, winning all 2 games in the championship series.
Finals Most Valuable Player:
Prior to Game 1, Lyceum's CJ Perez, last year's Most Valuable Player, was suspended for a game after he applied to the 2018 PBA draft without notifying the Management Committee. Perez is the first person to be suspended after San Beda's Yousif Aljamal in 2007, although the league rescinded the suspension after San Beda sued in court, and threatened to leave the NCAA.San Beda withdraws case against NCAA by Frank Calapre, The Manila Times. 08/29/2007
San Beda won Game 1 handily by 13 points. The Red Lions led by 31–11 in the first half and Lyceum only got to reduce the deficit by 10 points late in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Lyceum coach Topex Robinson criticized the league on Perez's suspension. Benilde coaches Ty Tang and Charles Tiu also criticized the league on social media. The Management Committee decided to defer any punishment to the coaches until the Finals are over.
San Beda defeated a full-strength Lyceum squad in Game 2. San Beda went on a 22–12 scoring run on top of a five-point lead before the fourth period to seal their 11th title in 13 seasons, and 22nd overall.
San Beda qualifies to the 2018 PCCL National Collegiate Championship Final Four. Lyceum may participate in the NCR qualifiers as of one of the two NCAA teams.
All-Star Game The 2018 NCAA All-Star Game is on August 31 at the Filoil Flying V Centre. The actual game was preceded by the side events patterned from the NBA All-Star Weekend.
All-Star Game MVP: Michael Calisaan (Team Saints)
+RostersTeam Heroes Team Saints Ian Alban Josh Barnes Michael Canete JJ Domingo Leo dela Cruz Luigi Velasco Juju Bautista JP Calvo Jeric Diego Christian Fajarito Jerome Garcia Bong Quinto Aaron Bordon Edgar Charcos RJ David AJ Coronel Jed Mendoza Prince Eze JC Marcelino Robert Bolick JV Marcelino JV Mocon Toci Tangsingco Radge Tongco Warren Bonifacio Allyn Bulanadi Cedric Pelayo Michael Calisaan Laurenz Victoria Alvin Capobres
Skills Challenge Participant TeamClint Doliguez Arjan dela Cruz Bonbon Batiller Maui Sera Josef Eric Jabel Jasper Cuevas Jimboy Pasturan CJ Cadua Mark Mallari Carl Lumbao
Three-point Shootout Participant TeamAC Soberano Allyn Bulanadi Jerome Garcia Toci Tansingco Exe Biteng Rence Alcoriza MJ Dela Virgen Koy Galvelo Carlo Young Luke Sese
Slam Dunk Contest Participant TeamEugene Toba Justin Gutang Juju Bautista Enoch Valdez Ken Villapando Arvin Gamboa Renato Ular William de Leon Lean Martel
Shooting Stars TeamAlumnus player Men's player Juniors' player Jio Jalalon Kraniel Villoria Marlon Espiritu Rey Nambatac Christian Fajarito* Stacey Tibayan RJ Deles Carlo Young** Sebastian Locsin***Bong Melacoton Sean Neri**** CJ Boado Philip Paniamogan***** Agem Miranda John Amores Kevin Lacap Carl Lumbao****** John Barba Yong Garcia Exi Biteng Clint Escamis Gerald DizonJielo RazonYukihiro KawamuraRome dela Rosa******** Calvin Oftana Penny Estacio Jepoy Quiamco Michael Are Milo Janao *Replaced Jerrick Balanza *****Replaced John Wilson
**Replaced Jimboy Pasturan ******Replaced Kim Cinco
***Replaced Francis Lopez *******Replaced Jake Pascual
****Replaced Maui Cruz ********Replaced Ian Valdez
Awards
The end-of-season awards were handed out before Game 2 of the men's finals, at the Mall of Asia Arena. Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Mythical Five:
Defensive Player of the Year: All-Defensive Team:
Most Improved Player:
Players of the Week The NCAA Press Corps awards a player of the week sponsored by Chooks-to-Go.
+Week endingPlayerTeamJuly 13 Jaycee Marcelino July 20 JP CalvoJuly 27 CJ PerezAugust 3 JP MagulianoAugust 10 Prince EzeAugust 17 MJ AyaayAugust 24 Robert Bolick Bong QuintoSeptember 1 Maui Sera JosefSeptember 8 Jerrick BalanzaSeptember 15 Donald TankouaSeptember 22 Prince EzeSeptember 29 Koy GaveloOctober 6 Larry MuyangOctober 13 Javee MoconOctober 20 James CanlasOctober 23 Michael Calisaan
Statistics Game player highs Statistic Player Team Total Opponent Date Points Robert Bolick 50 August 24, 2018 Rebounds Prince Eze 25 August 28, 2018 Assists Bong Quinto 12 September 6, 2018September 28, 2018 Steals CJ Perez 6 July 13, 2018 Blocks Prince Eze 9 July 28, 2018
Season player highs Statistic Player Team AveragePoints Robert Bolick 18.7Rebounds Prince Eze 16.5Assists Bong Quinto 6.5Steals CJ Perez 3.3Blocks Prince Eze 3.3
Game team highs Statistic Team Total Opponent Date Points 113 September 27, 2018 Rebounds 67 August 21, 2018 Assists 27 September 28, 2018September 27, 2018 Steals 17 August 7, 2018 Blocks 14 July 13, 2018
Season team highs Statistic Team AveragePoints 86.6Rebounds 32.8Assists 20.2Steals 10.2Blocks 5.2
Juniors' tournament Elimination round Team standings
Scores Results on top and to the right of the dashes are for first-round games; those to the bottom and to the left of it are second-round games.
Bracket
Semifinals