WITH a new competition format and expected tight showdowns ahead in the 101st NCAA basketball tournament, defending champion Mapua University is determined to defend its hard-earned crown against all odds.
Led by last season’s finals MVP Clint Escamis, the Cardinals are set to show their real worth anew in their title-retention bid as the country’s oldest collegiate league opens shop on Oct. 1.
To be hosted by Mapua, the cage wars will have a new tournament format with the 10 teams divided into two groups in the eliminations.
A crossover play is also in the format and will feature a play-in game for the fourth seeds, a twice-to-beat advantage for the top two squads of each group in the quarterfinals, and a best-of-three semifinals and finals series.
Joining Mapua in Pool A are the Lyceum, Perpetual Help, San Sebastian College, and Arellano U.
In Pool B, last season’s runner-up College of St. Benilde headlines the group along with San Beda University, Letran, Jose Rizal University, and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
“Walang madaling group ngayon. Sabi ko nga, sa pre-season tinalo kami ng lahat ng teams. Alam naman natin nag-ready at iyong mga ni-recruit nila ready,” Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara said yesterday during the season launch at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
“Siyempre hindi natin puwedeng basehan iyong pre-season, sabi nila, pero alam ko iyong lakas nila, alam ko na iyong na talagang nag-improve lahat ng teams para agawin sa amin ang korona.
“Pero sabi ko nga, kung sila ready lang, kailangan din double time kami, magre-ready rin kami,” he added.
