The NCAA Season 99 basketball tournaments were the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) for its 2023–24 season. The tournament was hosted by José Rizal University. There were two tournaments, the men's tournament for male college students, and the juniors' tournament for male senior high school students.
In the men's tournament, the Mapúa Cardinals finished first in the elimination round for the first time in the Final Four era. The Cardinals then defeated last season's finalists Benilde Blazers in the semifinals. The Lyceum Pirates finished second, but lost all two semifinals games to the San Beda Red Lions. The Blazers then defeated Lyceum in the first third place playoff in NCAA history. In the finals, the Red Lions denied the Cardinals their first title since 1991 to win their 23rd title.
In the juniors' tournament, the Perpetual Junior Altas finished first in the elimination round for the first time in school history. In the semifinals, the Junior Altas defeated the Malayan Red Robins to qualify to the finals for the first time, while the defending champions Letran Squires eliminated the San Sebastian Staglets. The Red Robins then defeated San Sebastian in the third place playoff. In the finals, the Squires defeated the Junior Altas to win their second consecutive title.
In the inaugural kiddies' tournament, the Arellano Braves defeated the San Beda Red Cubs in the final; both teams ended the elimination round tied for first.
Tournament format The NCAA is expected to follow the Final Four format used since 1997.
Tonichi Pujante was reappointed basketball commissioner.
Just as in the past two seasons, men's gamedays are held five days a week, with doubleheaders on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and tripleheaders on Sundays.
A third place playoff will be held for the first time.
For the juniors' tournament, it is a single round robin, followed by the Final Four playoffs. Game are held every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with each gameday having all 10 teams compete.
Teams All ten schools are participating. +Men's teamsTeamCollegeCoachUniform manufacturerArellano ChiefsArellano University (AU) Chico ManabatKalos SportswearLetran KnightsColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Rensy BajarAntboxBenilde BlazersDe La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Charles TiuAntaEAC GeneralsEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Jerson CabiltesPower Hoops PinasJRU Heavy BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Louie GonzalezAntaLyceum PiratesLyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Gilbert MalabananRebel SportsMapúa CardinalsMapúa University (MU) Randy AlcantaraSan Beda Red LionsSan Beda University (SBU) Yuri EscuetaAntaSan Sebastian StagsSan Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC–R) John KallosPerpetual AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Myk SaguiguitWorld Balance +Juniors' teamsTeamHigh schoolCoachArellano BravesArellano University High School (AU) John NecesitoLetran SquiresColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Allen RicardoEAC BrigadiersEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Gonzalo Catalan Jr.JRU 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 DoctoMalayan 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 byDateEAC Generals Oliver BunyiResignationNovember 22, 2022 Jerson CabiltesJanuary 27, 2023EAC Brigadiers Azlie GuroFiredMarch 24, 2023 Gonzalo Catalan JrApril 30, 2023San Sebastian Stags Edgar MacarayaEnd of contractDecember 30, 2022 John KallosDecember 30, 2022Arellano Chiefs Cholo MartinFiredMarch 30, 2023 Chico ManabatMarch 30, 2023Arellano Braves Junjie AblanFired John NecesitoLetran Knights Bonnie TanSigned by Northport Batang PierApril 23, 2023 Rensy BajarApril 24, 2023
Venues
For the men's tournament, the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay will host opening day, while Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan will host the remainder of the elimination round. The semifinals was at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, along with the first two games of the finals; Game 3 was at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. +ArenaLocationCapacityFiloil EcoOil CentreSan Juan6,000SM Mall of Asia ArenaPasay20,000Araneta ColiseumQuezon City14,429 For the juniors' tournament, the Filoil EcoOil Centre hosted all elimination round, and playoff games.
For the kiddies' tournament, it was held at the Arellano University A. Mabini campus in Pasay.
Squads Each team can have up to 15 players on their roster, with an additional up to three players in the injured reserve list, and all players on each team are required to be Filipinos.
Men's tournament The men's tournament started on September 24, 2023, and ended on December 17, 2023.
Elimination round Team standings
Match-up results
Results Results on top and to the right of the dashes are for first-round games; those to the bottom and left of it are second-round games.
Bracket
Semifinals The top 2 teams had the twice-to-beat advantage, where the top 2 teams have to be beaten twice, while their opponents just once, to progress.
(1) Mapúa vs. (4) Benilde The Mapúa Cardinals clinched a semifinals appearance and the twice-to-beat advantage. The Cardinals returned to the playoffs after missing out last year. The Cardinals also clinched their first #1 seed in school history. The Benilde Blazers also clinched a semifinals appearance despite losing their last elimination round game.
(2) Lyceum vs. (3) San Beda The Lyceum Pirates clinched a semifinals appearance. The Pirates later clinched the twice-to-beat advantage. With the Cardinals winning in their last elimination round game, the San Beda Red Lions also clinched a semifinals appearance.
Third place playoff The first third place playoff in NCAA basketball history was held in 2023.
Finals This is a best-of-three playoff.
The Mapúa Cardinals return to the Finals after losing to Letran in NCAA Season 97. The San Beda Red Lions qualify to the Finals for the 16th time, and for the first time since NCAA Season 95. This shall also be the first time the two teams will meet in the Finals since NCAA Season 67 (1991), where the Cardinals won on a Benny Cheng game-winner in Game 3.
Finals Most Valuable Player: Coach of the Year:
Awards
The awards were handed out prior to Game 2 of the Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. A new award for true college freshmen, the "Freshman of the Year" was instituted. The original Rookie of the Year award is still given to the best player playing in his first season in the NCAA, who may not always be a freshman.
Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Mythical Five:
Defensive Player of the Year: All-Defensive Team:
Most Improved Player: Freshman of the Year: Sportsmanship Award: Arellano Chiefs
Players of the Week The Collegiate Press Corps awards a "player of the week" on Mondays for performances on the preceding week. +WeekPlayerTeamWeek 1Shawn UmaliWeek 2Paolo HernandezWeek 3Clint EscamisWeek 4Jomel PunoWeek 5Ry dela RosaWeek 6JM BravoWeek 7Cyrus NituraWeek 8Yukien AndradaWeek 9Jacob Cortez
Statistical leaders
Season player highs StatisticPlayerTeamAveragePoints per gameClint Escamis16.28Rebounds per gameJomel Puno8.83Assists per gameJL delos Santos6.28Steals per gameClint Escamis3.78Blocks per gameShawn Umali1.59Field goal percentageJopet Soriano63.33%Three-point field goal percentageMarc Cuenco38.64%Free throw percentageMiguel Oczon87.23%Turnovers per gameJL delos Santos3.67
Game player highs StatisticPlayerTeamTotalOpponentPointsAgem Miranda31Miguel Oczon29ReboundsClifford Jopia18AssistsJL delos Santos12StealsClint Escamis8BlocksJames Una5TurnoversNicko Fajardo8
Season team highs StatisticTeamAveragePoints per game81.56Rebounds per game49.06Assists per game20.11Steals per game10.56Blocks per game4.94Field goal percentage40.52%Three-point field goal percentage31.51%Free throw percentage70.44%Turnovers per game13.28 Game team highs StatisticTeamTotalOpponentPoints111Rebounds6363Assists2929Steals1817Blocks9Field goal percentage54.0%53.0%Three-point field goal percentage57.0%Free throw percentage93%Turnovers39
Discipline The following were suspended throughout the course of the season:
Will Gozum of the Benilde Blazers for being ejected against the Letran Knights in Game 3 of the Season 98 finals. Served one-game suspension on their first game of Season 99 against the Lyceum Pirates. Jielo Razon of the Perpetual Altas for being called for an unsportsmanlike foul against the San Sebastian Stags on their last game of Season 98. Served one-game suspension on their first game of Season 99 against the EAC Generals. Three referees of the first round game between JRU and Benilde were suspended for two weeks due to "failure to execute sound judgement, inefficient use of the Instant Replay System review, as well as for ceasing to assert themselves as game officials". JL delos Santos was supposed to be suspended due to an unsportsmanlike foul on this game, but commissioner Tonichi Pujante reversed the unsportsmanlike foul (and the suspension that goes with it) against the former as his elbow "did not connect" with Benilde's Mark Sangco. Shawn Umali of the Lyceum Pirates for being ejected against the San Beda Red Lions. Served one game suspension against the EAC Generals. Coach Yuri Escueta of the San Beda Red Lions for being ejected against the Lyceum Pirates. Served one game suspension against the JRU Heavy Bombers. Andre Santos coached San Beda against JRU on an interim basis. Coach Louie Gonzalez of the JRU Heavy Bombers for being ejected against the Benilde Blazers. Served one game suspension against the Letran Knights. Alex Callueng coached JRU against Letran on an interim basis.
Juniors' tournament The juniors' tournament started on February 10, 2024 and ended on March 23, 2024.
Elimination round Team standings
Match-up results
Results
Bracket
Semifinals The top two seeds will have the twice-to-beat advantage against the lower-seeded teams, where the higher-seeded teams have to be beaten twice, while their opponents just once, to be eliminated.
The Perpetual Junior Altas clinched their first semifinal appearance since 2010. Letran, Mapua and San Sebastian rounded up the semifinalists. (1) Perpetual vs. (4) Malayan Perpetual clinched the top seed on their final elimination round game against San Sebastian. After losing against also-ran San Beda, Malayan settled for the #4 seed.
(2) Letran vs. (3) San Sebastian Letran clinched the #2 seed by winning their final elimination game against LSGH in a finals rematch from last season. They shall face San Sebastian, which had lost against Perpetual earlier in the day and settled for the #3 seed. This semifinal is the latest juniors' playoff meeting of the San Sebastian–Letran rivalry.
Third place playoff The third place playoff is between semifinal losers.
Finals The Finals was a best-of-three playoff between semifinal winners.
The Letran Squires qualified to their second consecutive finals, while the Perpetual Junior Altas qualified to their first finals since joining the NCAA in 1984. Finals Most Valuable Player: Coach of the Year:
Awards The awards were handed out prior to Game 2 of the Finals at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, San Juan.
Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Mythical Five:
Defensive Player of the Year: All-Defensive Team:
Most Improved Player: Sportsmanship Award: Lyceum Junior Pirates
Statistical leaders These are for after the elimination round.
Season player highs