The NCAA Season 101 basketball tournaments were the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA) for its 101st season, during the 2025–26 academic year. The tournament is being hosted by Mapúa University. The tournaments saw a new format, with teams divided into two groups, and the playoffs having four rounds.
The men's tournament began on October 1, 2025, while the juniors' tournament began a day later. Both tournaments featured a new format, with two groups, and all teams qualifying to the playoffs, with the playoffs concluding on December 13.
In the men's tournament, the Perpetual Altas and the San Beda Red Lions both topped their respective groups. In the quarterfinals, the Altas defeated the JRU Heavy Bombers, winners of the play-in against the EAC Generals. San Beda also eliminated play-in winners Lyceum Pirates, which had defeated the San Sebastian Stags. The Letran Knights eliminated the Arellano Chiefs, which had the twice-to-beat advantage, while the Benilde Blazers needed two games to eliminate the defending champions Mapua Cardinals. In the semifinals, the Knights then eliminated the Altas, and the Red Lions eliminated Benilde. San Beda then won the NCAA title in the finals against Letran.
In the juniors' tournament, group winners Mapua Red Robins and EAC Brigadiers were defeated in the semifinals by the Arellano Braves and Letran Squires, respectively. The Squires then defeated the Braves in the finals.
Tournament format On July 24, 2025, season hosts Mapúa University announced a modification to the overall format of both the men's and juniors' tournaments which will also be applied for volleyball. Initially described as mixing elements of the NBA play-in tournament and the U.S. NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, it was initially revealed that the teams are to be divided into two groups of five. The changes were due to Metro Manila hosting the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship, which caused the NCAA to delay the opening due to venue availability, and to make sure the tournament ends before Christmas.
On the day of the draw, on August 29, 2025, it was revealed that teams will be indeed divided into two groups of five teams, with each team playing the teams on its group twice, then teams on the other group once, for a total of 13 games each. The top three teams per group advance to the quarterfinals outright, with the top 2 teams in each group with the twice-to-beat advantage, and the bottom two teams figure in a play-in game. The quarterfinals pair a team from the opposite group. The semifinals and finals are best of three playoffs. The semifinalists from Season 100 are seeded, with the 1st and 4th placed teams being grouped together, as well as the 2nd and 3rd placed teams.
Playoff match-ups originally had the top 2 seeds per group separated until the finals if they made it to that stage. However, after the revision of schedules with the postponement of games due to Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong), the NCAA changed the semifinal pairings, where the top 2 seeds in the group, if both win in the quarterfinals, will meet in the semifinals instead of the finals.
Rico Quicho was named as this year's basketball commissioner. The juniors' tournament, which had been played separately since the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be held together with the men's tournament. Earlier reports published list Quicho as a San Beda University alumnus, but Quicho himself denied this, saying he studied at De La Salle University for his undergraduate degree, Ateneo Law School for his bachelors of law, and the University of California, Berkeley for his masters of law. Quicho teaches law at the San Beda College Alabang School of Law.
Teams +Men's teamsTeamCollegeCoachArellano ChiefsArellano University (AU) Chico ManabatLetran KnightsColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Allen RicardoBenilde BlazersDe La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Charles TiuEAC GeneralsEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Jerson CabiltesJRU Heavy BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Nani EpondulanLyceum 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) Rob LabagalaPerpetual AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Olsen Racela +Juniors' teamsTeamHigh schoolCoachArellano BravesArellano University High School (AU) Anthony UrbanoLetran SquiresColegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Andrew EstrellaEAC BrigadiersEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Noy CatalanJRU Light BombersJosé Rizal University (JRU) Edsel VallenaLa Salle Green Hills GreeniesLa Salle Green Hills (LSGH) Renren RitualoLyceum Junior PiratesLyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite (LPU–C) Al VergaraMalayan Red RobinsMalayan High School of Science (MHSS) JR Dela CruzSan Beda Red CubsSan Beda University – Rizal (SBU–R) Britt ReromaSan Sebastian StagletsSan Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC–R) Chelito CaroPerpetual Junior AltasUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Joph Cleopas
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDateReplaced byDateJRU Heavy Bombers Louie GonzalezContracts bought outJanuary 22, 2025 Nani EpondulanJanuary 31, 2025San Sebastian Stags Arvin BonleonContracts not renewedMarch 2, 2025 Rob LabagalaMarch 14, 2025San Beda Red Cubs Miko RoldanFiredJune 22, 2025 Britt ReromaJune 22, 2025Letran Squires Willie MillerResignedMay 21, 2025 Andrew EstrellaJuly 4, 2025
Draw The seeding and draw for the men's tournament was the basis for the juniors' tournament, as well. The determination of the seeds was based on the results of the Season 100 men's tournament. +Seeded teamsUnseeded teamsMapúa (1)ArellanoBenilde/LSGH (2)LetranSan Beda (3)EACLyceum (4)JRUSan SebastianPerpetualThe draw was held on August 29, 2025 Group AGroup BArellanoBenilde/LSGHLyceumLetranMapúaEACSan SebastianJRUPerpetualSan Beda Group B was labeled by fans as the "group of death" for the men's tournament, with Group A with hosts Mapúa having been described as the "easier" path.
Venues
Opening day is on Araneta Coliseum, with most game days held at Playtime Filoil Centre, four game days at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, and two game days at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the NCAA's former longtime home. Opening day of the juniors' tournament is at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. ArenaLocationCapacityAraneta ColiseumQuezon City14,429Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS)Manila6,000Playtime Filoil CentreSan Juan6,000Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC)Manila6,100SM Mall of Asia Arena (MOA)Pasay15,000
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 rostersArellanoLetranBenildeEACJRULyceumMapúaSan BedaSan SebastianPerpetualRenzo AbieraJohn AlejandroJhommel AnchetaBrianne AngelesShawn ArgenteJovan AbreganaSherfrazkhan AbdullaYukien AndradaRafael AreJohn AbisAnthony BorromeoJovel BalilingJoshua CajucomJethro BacudLance BenitezLance AurigueIcee CallanganJC BonzalidaMatt AcostaJosiah AlcantaraLeyton BuenaventuraAaron BuensalidaRaffy CelizJude BagayJohn CanozaGenesis AvilesYam ConcepcionRecaredo CalimagJerover CabillaAries BorjaAnjord CabotajeDeo CuajaoGab CometaEJ CastilloFranzen CasinilloJohn BarbaCyrus CuencoJoe CelzoClarence CruzJP BoralYuan CamayJimboy EstradaBonn DajaJoshua DevaraJayson CastilloRichmond CasiñoDrex delos ReyesIsmael CuldoraNiel CastorAndrew CasinilloDominic DayritLorge GammadAnton EusebioRuzzelle DominguezBenedict CatapangJonathan DailegClint EscamisPenny EstacioIan CuajaoKenji DuremdesGirbaud DemetriaAlex GazzinganIrele GalasAdam DoriaYuri DuqueCharles DuralCyril GonzalesZedjay EtulleJhuniel dela RamaAngelo GelsanoErnjay GerominoJonathan ManaliliJake GaspayMac JacobPaul EnalNathaniel FuentesJoe GulapaNygel GonzalesMarkus DimaunahanMark Gojo CruzJoseph Cyril HernalNathaniel MontecilloJio GonzagaGelo LoristoGyllien EsguerraOmar GordonMarc IglianeRafael JalbuenaTJ FelebricoKevin GuibaoMatthew LangitEdvil MundasJericho JalalonDeo LuceroJay GarupilJasper MatienzoIvan LazarteKyle JamoraRalph GubatKylle MagdangalCharles LibangMark OmegaAllen LiwagKyle OchavoHarry HerreraGyle MontañoCyrus NituraBismarck LinaJaime Gomez de LiañoRay Allen MaglupayWill MillerJoss PoliJohn MoralesWilmar OftanaAllan LaurenariaNeil MoralejoJC RectoAgjanti MillerAxcel KitaneJearico NuñezT-mc OngotanJun RoqueSJ MooreJearolan OmandacJustin LozanoLyon PallingayanSebastian ReyesJomel PunoJose LumanagShawn Michael OrgoBasti ValenciaPeter RosilloMatthew OliRico PostanesIvan PanapanaanDave PauloEdward RyanJimuel ReyesGabriel NepacenaJan PagulayanMaverick VinoyaKevin SantosJustine SanchezNico QuinalJhun PeñaverdeSimon PeñafielEarl SapasapBryan SajoniaThomas PilladoEmmanuel PizzaroAndrei AcopSyrex SilorioIan TorresJacob ShanodaSean SalvadorJethro ReyesMenard SongcuyaChristian RicioJan RolunaKyle AnamaLuiz TapenioShawn UmaliJoshua TolentinoVince SarmientoJohn VersozaRon Rei TolentinoVincent SegoviaPatrick SleatJoseph Espiritu Jr.Elijah YusiTony YnotFelix VillarenteRasa SoleimaniRenz VillegasMJ VailocesLeonardo VelascoJuan Tulabut
Men's tournament The men's tournament started on October 1, with the traditional host school vs. champion team opening game featuring the defending champions and host school Mapúa Cardinals going up against last season's host Lyceum Pirates.
Group stage The NCAA postponed November 9 and November 11 games due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan).
Group A Team standings
Results
Group B Team standings
Results
Bracket
Play-in games The teams that finished fourth and fifth in their respective groups will play each other for quarterfinal berths.
(A4) Lyceum vs. (A5) San Sebastian Lyceum's loss against Arellano relegated both the Pirates and the Stags to the play-in.
(B4) JRU vs. (B5) EAC JRU and EAC are locked in the play-in game.
Quarterfinals The teams that finished first and second in their respective groups will have the twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals.
(A1) Perpetual vs. (B4) JRU Perpetual clinched the first twice-to-beat advantage in Group A with Arellano's loss to JRU. The Altas clinched the twice-to-beat advantage with four games to spare. Arellano's win over Mapua gave the #1 seed in the group to the Altas.
(B1) San Beda vs. (A4) Lyceum San Beda clinched a quarterfinals berth after defeating JRU. They then clinched the top seed in Group B by defeating EAC.
(A2) Arellano vs. (B3) Letran Letran clinched a quarterfinals berth and the #3 seed with San Beda's win over EAC. Arellano clinched a quarterfinals berth win their win against Lyceum. Needing to win by at least four points against Mapua, the Chiefs seized the twice-to-beat advantage by winning over the Cardinals.
(B2) Benilde vs. (A3) Mapúa Benilde clinched a quarterfinals berth with their win against JRU. San Beda's win over EAC towed the Blazers to the #2 seed. Mapua clinched a quarterfinals berth on their overtime win against San Sebastian. The Cardinals settled for the #3 seed with their loss against Arellano. This is a rematch of the Season 100 Finals.
Semifinals The semifinals are best of three playoffs.
(A1) Perpetual vs. (B3) Letran Perpetual clinched its first semifinals berth since NCAA Season 97 (2022). Letran clinched its first semifinals berth since NCAA Season 98 (2022).
(B1) San Beda vs. (B2) Benilde San Beda clinched its 19th consecutive semifinals appearance, starting from NCAA Season 82 (2006). Benilde clinched its fifth consecutive semifinals appearance. This is rematch of one of the previous season's semifinals.
Third place playoff A third place playoff will be played by the semifinals losers.
Finals