The NCAA Season 98 basketball tournaments are the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) for its 2022–23 season. Emilio Aguinaldo College hosted the tournaments for the first time.
The men's tournament was held in September 2022, just over three months after Season 97 ended. The juniors' tournament began in February 2023, the first tournament since Season 95, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Letran Knights and Squires won their respective tournaments, winning the first double championship for Letran since 1983.
In the men's tournament, the Benilde Blazers finished first, and defeated the #4 seed San Beda Red Lions in the semifinals. Letran, which finished second, also defeated #3 seed Lyceum Pirates on the other semifinal. Letran defeated Benilde in three games to win their third consecutive title.
In the juniors' tournament, the Letran Squires finished first, with LSGH, Malayan, San Beda and San Sebastian finishing tied from second to fifth. After a series of playoff games, Letran defeated #4 seed Malayan Red Robins, while #2 San Beda Red Cubs lost all of its semifinal games against #3 seed LSGH Greenies. Letran defeated LSGH in two games in the Finals, to win their first title since 2001.
Tournament format After COVID restrictions limited the elimination round to a single round-robin with the introduction of a play-in tournament in the previous season, Season 98 returned to a double round-robin eliminations for the men's tournament.
Former UAAP basketball commissioner Tonichi Pujante is this season's commissioner.
Just like in Season 97, game days are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
For the juniors' tournament, it is a single round-robin tournament.
Teams All ten schools are participating. +Men's teamsTeamCollegeMen's coachArellano ChiefsArellano University (AU) Cholo MartinLetran KnightsColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Bonnie TanBenilde BlazersDe La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Charles TiuEAC GeneralsEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Oliver BunyiJRU Heavy BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Louie GonzalezLyceum PiratesLyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Gilbert MalabananMapúa CardinalsMapúa University (MU) Randy AlcantaraSan Beda Red LionsSan Beda University (SBU) Yuri EscuetaSan Sebastian StagsSan Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC-R) Edgar MacarayaPerpetual AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Myk Saguiguit +Juniors' teamsTeamHigh schoolJuniors' coachArellano BravesArellano University High School (AU) Junjie AblanLetran SquiresColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Allen RicardoEAC-ICA BrigadiersImmaculate Conception Academy (ICA) Azlie GuroJRU Light BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Vic LazaroLa Salle Green Hills GreeniesLa Salle Green Hills (LSGH) Renren RitualoLyceum Junior PiratesLyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite (LPU–C) JC DoctoMapúa Red RobinsMalayan High School of Science (MHSS) Yong GarciaSan Beda Red CubsSan Beda University – Rizal (SBU–R) Miko RoldanSan Sebastian StagletsSan Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC–R) Juan Miguel MartinPerpetual Junior AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Joph Cleopas
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDateReplaced byDateLyceum Junior Pirates LA MumarMutual consentNovember 2019 Ian SangcoLa Salle Green Hills Greenies Marvin BienvenidaMutual consentMarch 28, 2019 Karl SantosMarch 30, 2019Perpetual Junior Altas Myk SaguiguitSigned with Perpetual AltasDecember 2, 2020 Joph CleopasDecember 2, 2020San Beda Red Lions Boyet FernandezDemotedJuly 26, 2022 Yuri EscuetaJuly 27, 2022La Salle Green Hills Greenies Karl SantosFiredJune 15, 2022 Renren RitualoJuly 29, 2022San Beda Red Cubs Manu InigoFiredOctober 28, 2022 Miko RoldanJanuary 12, 2023San Sebastian Staglets Mel BanuaFiredDecember 15, 2022 Juan Miguel MartinJanuary 6, 2023
Venues
For the men's tournament, Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City hosted the opening day, while Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan hosted the remainder of the elimination round. Filoil EcoOil Centre hosted the semifinals, while the NCAA returned to the Araneta Coliseum for the first two games of the Finals. Game 3 of the Finals was held at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal.
For the juniors' tournament, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym in Manila hosted the elimination round, except for the final gameday, which was held at the nearby San Andres Sports Complex, which then hosted all of the playoff games. +ArenaLocationTournamentCapacityMenJrsAraneta ColiseumQuezon City14,429Emilio Aguinaldo College GymManila 250Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan6,000San Andres Sports ComplexManila3,000Ynares CenterAntipolo, Rizal7,400
Squads Each team can have up to 15 players on their roster, with an additional up to three players in the injured reserve list.
The ban of foreign student-athletes first applied in Season 96 (2020) is still in effect, requiring all players to be Filipinos.
Men's tournament The traditional champion vs. season host opening game on September 10 was scrapped when four Letran Knights players contracted COVID-19; replacing that match-up is season hosts EAC going up against the Arellano Chiefs; the host vs. champion game will instead be the final game of the first round. (Subsequent postponements have made this not the final game of the first round.)
Elimination round Team standings
Match-up results Two first-round games, Benilde vs. JRU, and JRU vs. San Sebastian, were rescheduled on the early part of the second round. On this table, they're shown as if they occurred before the second round started.
Postponed games Letran vs. EAC rescheduled after four Letran players tested positive for COVID-19. San Sebastian's games vs. Lyceum and EAC rescheduled after six San Sebastian players tested positive for COVID-19. September 25 games (JRU vs. Benilde and San Beda vs. Perpetual) were rescheduled due to Super Typhoon Karding. JRU's games vs. San Sebastian and Benilde after JRU players tested positive for COVID-19. The JRU vs. San Sebastian game has been rescheduled thrice. San Beda vs Arellano rescheduled after Arellano players tested positive for COVID-19. Games on October 29 (Arellano vs. EAC and San Beda vs. Benilde) and October 30 (Mapua vs. San Sebastian and JRU vs. Letran) have been postponed due to Tropical Storm Paeng.
Scores Results on top and to the right of the grey cells are for first-round games; those to the bottom and to the left of it are second-round games.
Bracket
Semifinals Letran and Benilde will have the twice-to-beat advantage; with them having to win only once, and while their opponents twice, to advance.
(1) Benilde vs. (4) San Beda The Benilde Blazers qualified to its first Final Four in 20 years. San Beda made it to its 17th consecutive Final Four appearance.
(2) Letran vs. (3) Lyceum The Letran Knights qualified to its fourth consecutive Final Four. The Lyceum Pirates clinched a Final Four berth after missing out in Season 97.
Finals The Finals is a best-of-three series. Benilde qualified to its first Finals appearance in 20 years, while Letran qualified to its third consecutive Finals.
Finals Most Valuable Player: Coach of the Year:
All-Star Game
The annual GMA-NCAA All-Star Game was on October 15, 2022, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. Each team had celebrities and basketball legends. The basketball legends in Team Heroes were Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera, while Team Saints had Marlou Aquino and Willie Miller. All-Star Game MVP: Nat Cosejo (Team Heroes) Celebrity MVP: Raheel Bhyria (Team Heroes)
Awards The awards were handed out prior to Game 2 of the Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Mythical Five:
Defensive Player of the Year: All-Defensive Team:
Most Improved Player: Sportsmanship Award: San Beda Red Lions
Players of the Week The Collegiate Press Corps awards a "player of the week" on Mondays for performances on the preceding week. +WeekPlayerTeamWeek 1Cade FloresWeek 2Will GozumWeek 3Mac GuadañaWeek 4Miguel OczonWeek 5Nat CosejoWeek 6Fran YuWeek 7Will GozumWeek 8JB BahioWeek 9Enoch ValdezWeek 10Will Gozum
Statistical leaders Statistical leaders' averages after the elimination round.
Season player highs StatisticPlayerTeamAveragePoints per gameWill Gozum17.17Rebounds per gameCade Flores10.07Assists per gameRenzo Navarro5.41Steals per gameFran Yu2.17Blocks per gameShawn Umali1.94Field goal percentageNat Cosejo55.15%Three-point field goal percentageRhinwil Yambing45.83%Free throw percentageRobi Nayve87.5%Turnovers per gameIchie Altamirano3.33
Team game highs StatisticTeamTotalOpponentPoints101100Rebounds60Assists31Steals15Blocks8Field goal percentage56.0%Three-point field goal percentage51.0%Free throw percentage100%Turnovers30 Notes
Team season highs StatisticTeamAveragePoints per game81.67Rebounds per game48.56Assists per game19.44Steals per game8.0Blocks per game4.72Field goal percentage42.09%Three-point field goal percentage31.29%Free throw percentage62.37%Turnovers per game15.61
Discipline The following were suspended throughout the course of the season:
Brent Paraiso of the Letran Knights for a disqualifying foul against the Mapúa Cardinals. Served one-game suspension against the San Beda Red Lions. Paraiso was given another one-game suspension, this time on their game against the Lyceum Pirates, for actions detrimental to the league. Louie Sangalang of the Letran Knights for two technical fouls against the Mapúa Cardinals. Served one-game suspension against the San Beda Red Lions. Sangalang was given another one-game suspension, this time on their game against the Lyceum Pirates, for actions detrimental to the league. There were reports that Gab Gamboa of the Mapúa Cardinals was banned in the NCAA for life for being an ineligible player after being enrolled in another school (St. Clare College of Caloocan) outside of the NCAA. Gamboa had already withdrew from the team on September 18. The ban was supposedly reported on October 1. Last time while the Mapúa Cardinals wins on this opening day last September 10, 2022 at the score of 66-55 + the San Beda Red Lions will go up to 4-1 win and Mapúa Cardinals 0-6, the NCAA denied that there were penalties already meted on Gamboa himself, with only the forfeiture being confirmed. Ralph Robin and King Gurtiza of the EAC Generals was suspended for the rest of the season, while Art Cosa and Joshua Tolentino were suspended for an undisclosed number of games, by the team for unspecified "team violations". The announcement was prior to the start of the second round. Kim Aurin of the Perpetual Altas was suspended for one game against the Letran Knights by the team for unspecified "team violations." Aurin later the left the team midseason and signed with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3x3. Jacob Shanoda of the San Sebastian Stags for an unsportsmanlike foul against the Letran Knights. Served one-game suspension against the Mapua Cardinals. John Amores of the JRU Heavy Bombers was suspended indefinitely for the following acts: intentionally bumping the referee, pointing a finger at the referee, disrespecting the NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM) representative, disrespecting court officials, charging towards the bench of CSB, instigating a brawl, making provocative gestures meant to ignite a fight or brawl, and throwing punches against four Benilde players. JRU also suspended Amores indefinitely, adding that he will no longer play in the remainder of the current season, and would no longer participate in team activities. A week after the incident, JRU announced that Amores has been permanently removed from the team. Mark Sangco and CJ Flores of the Benilde Blazers were suspended for two games against the Perpetual Altas and the San Sebastian Stags for disrespecting MANCOM representatives during the Amores incident.