The UAAP Season 84 men's basketball tournament is the basketball event of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for its 2021–22 school year. This was the first tournament since 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Philippines. The women's, boys' and girls' basketball tournaments were not held this season, also due to the pandemic.
Tournament format The usual UAAP tournament format for tournaments having all eight teams was followed:
Double round eliminations; top four teams advance to the playoffs If there is a tie for second or fourth, a one-game playoff will be held If a team wins all elimination round games: #1 seed advance to the finals outright #2 seed advance to the second round of the stepladder semifinals with the twice-to-beat advantage; winner advances to the finals #3 and #4 seeds advance to the first round of the stepladder semifinals in a one-game playoff; winner advances to the second round If no team wins all elimination round games: #1 seed with the twice-to-beat advantage vs #4 seed in the semifinals #2 seed with the twice-to-beat advantage vs #3 seed in the semifinals The finals is a best-of-three series.
Teams All eight universities are participating. TeamUniversityMen's coachAdamson Soaring FalconsAdamson University (AdU) Nash RacelaAteneo Blue EaglesAteneo de Manila University (ADMU) Tab BaldwinDe La Salle Green ArchersDe La Salle University (DLSU) Derrick PumarenFEU TamarawsFar Eastern University (FEU) Olsen RacelaNU BulldogsNational University (NU) Jeff NapaUE Red WarriorsUniversity of the East (UE) Jack SantiagoUP Fighting MaroonsUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (UP) Goldwin MonteverdeUST Growling TigersUniversity of Santo Tomas (UST) Jino Manansala
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDateReplaced byDateNU Bulldogs Jamike Jarin ResignationOctober 30, 2019 Goldwin MonteverdeMay 2020UE Red Warriors Bong TanDeathNovember 11, 2019 Jack SantiagoJanuary 20, 2020De La Salle Green Archers Gian NazarioEnd of interim termJanuary 1, 2020 Derrick PumarenJanuary 1, 2020NU Bulldogs Goldwin MonteverdeResignationAugust 17, 2020 Jeff NapaOctober 9, 2020UST Growling Tigers Aldin AyoResignationSeptember 5, 2020 Jino ManansalaOctober 8, 2020Adamson Soaring Falcons Franz PumarenResignationFebruary 16, 2021 Nash RacelaDecember 1, 2021UP Fighting Maroons Bo PerasolResignationJuly 14, 2021 Goldwin Monteverde August 13, 2021
Venue The SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay hosted the opening ceremonies and all the games. All games were held behind closed doors in a full bubble setup during the first four playing dates of the first round, meaning no fans were allowed inside the playing venue. However, on April 5, 2022, which was the fifth playing date of the basketball tournament, the UAAP allowed fans in a limited capacity to watch live at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Squads Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, teams were permitted to have 20 players in their rosters instead of the previous 16. The four additional players can be tapped only for COVID-related reasons.
Imports Each UAAP team can have one foreigner player, or an import, termed as "foreign student-athletes (FSA)" by the UAAP in the 16-man lineup, but can have as many in their reserve list.
With Ange Kouame's then impending naturalization, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said that they are not planning to get another FSA to replace Koaume's FSA slot on the roster. +TeamImportNationalityLenda DouangaAnge KouameBright NwankwoEmman OjuolaIssa Gayenone Malick Dioufnone
Elimination round
Team standings
Match-up results
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
*Overtime
Semifinals UP and Ateneo have the twice-to-beat advantage. They only have to win once, while their opponents, twice, to progress.
(1) Ateneo vs. (4) FEU This is the first meeting between Ateneo and FEU in the semifinals since 2018 and seventh overall. Ateneo kept its #1 seed from the last three tournaments, while FEU is on its eighth consecutive playoff appearance.
(2) UP vs. (3) La Salle This is the first meeting between UP and La Salle in the semifinals (and playoffs stages) in UAAP men's basketball history. UP is on its third straight playoffs appearance, and its second consecutive tournament with the twice-to-beat advantage. La Salle returned to the semifinals for the first time since 2017 after missing out in the past two tournaments.
Finals The finals is a best-of-three series. This is the fifth consecutive finals for Ateneo, and since 2018, the second appearance for UP in the Final Four era, and the second Battle of Katipunan finals, named after Katipunan Avenue that runs between the two campuses.
Finals Most Valuable Player:
Awards
Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Mythical Team:
PSBankable Player of the Season:
Statistical leaders
Season player highs These were for games played during the elimination round. StatisticPlayerTeamAveragePoints Jerom Lastimosa14.71Rebounds Emman Ojuola11.5Assists JD Cagulangan5.29Steals Clint Escamis2.14Blocks Ange Kouame2.07
See also
NCAA Season 97 basketball tournaments
References