NCAA Season 82 basketball tournaments

The NCAA Season 82 basketball tournaments are the tournaments of the Philippines National Collegiate Athletic Association for basketball at the 2006–07 season. The tournaments are divided into two divisions: the Juniors tournament for male high school students, and the Seniors tournament for male college students.

Losing only one game against the PCU Dolphins, the San Beda Red Lions only suffered one loss to finish first in the elimination round. San Beda's Nigerian center Samuel Ekwe won Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. PCU and the Letran Knights were tied for second place; the Dolphins won the second-place playoff to seize the #2 seed and the twice-to-beat advantage. San Beda dispatched fourth-seed Mapua Cardinals in the semifinals, and the Dolphins qualified to the Finals for the third consecutive time by beating the Knights in their own semifinal. The Red Lions and the Dolphins exchanged blowout wins in the first two games of the Finals; in the deciding third game, San Beda won their first NCAA men's basketball championship since 1978, Yousif Aljamal was named Finals MVP.

In the juniors division, the San Sebastian Staglets swept the San Beda Red Cubs, 2-0, to take their second title, as Eric Salamat won Finals MVP honors.

Seniors' tournament

Preseason events

Former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player and Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Jun Bernardino assumes the role of basketball commissioner for the season. ^[1]

On a report published on June 12, it was reported that JRU Heavy Bombers coach Cris Calilan, part of the 1972 champion team (JRU's last championship) resigned from the team and took most of the players with him. ^[2]

To prevent allegations of game-fixing, the Management Committee asked for the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to thwart efforts of such activities.^[3]

All of the elimination round games after Opening Day will be held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex at Manila.^[4]

New coaches are Raymund Valenzona of the San Sebastian Stags, and Ariel Vanguardia of JRU. Valenzona is a son of retired coach Arturo Valenzona, while Vanguardia who was tasked to replace former coach Cris Calilan, who left the team. San Beda Red Lions coach Koy Banal would be on his first full season as coach of the Red Lions.^[5]

On June 22, PCU Dolphins head coach Junel Baculi resigned due to health reasons. He will be replaced by Joel Dualan on an acting capacity.^[6] Management Committee (MANCOM) chairman Bernardo Atienza of CSB clarified on an interview broadcasted during the opening ceremonies that a rumoured seven-game suspension for Baculi for using indecent language in a PCU game on a tune-up league was untrue.

Elimination round

Host team in boldface.

Tiebreaker: PCU defeated Letran on the playoff for the 2nd seed, 67-62

NBI agents were present in the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, monitoring the basketball games. Rumours still persist that there were still efforts of game fixing in the games. The suspects "resurfaced" during the first round game between the Blazers and the Heavy Bombers, the day where the agents were supposedly absent.^[7]

Rivalry games

These are the results of the different rivalry games:

Postseason teams

• San Beda Red Lions

After making waves in the off-season tournaments, San Beda and PCU emerged as the preseason favorites. After demolishing the JRU Heavy Bombers on Opening Night, the Red Lions were defeated by the PCU Dolphins, when Red Lions coach Koy Banal was on duty as assistant coach of the Purefoods Chunkee Giants during their PBA championship game. After Banal and the Chunkee Giants won the Philippine Cup, his return to the SBC bench signalled the start of a Red Lions rampage, winning their next four games in convincing fashion. Their final game in the first round pitted them against the then undefeated Letran Knights. The game was held to a sell-out crowd and the Red Lions capitalized on their winning momentum, controlling the game from the early goings until the final buzzer. They never trailed during the game and went on to win by eight points, dealing the Knights their first loss of the season.

During the second round, the Lions continued their rampage, highlighted by a win against PCU, avenging their only loss for the season and assuring them of the twice to beat advantage in the playoffs. San Beda completed a sweep of the second round with a victory over the Letran Knights in a tightly contested and defense oriented game to a capacity crowd at the famed Araneta Coliseum (linescore, right). This sealed their top place finish in the eliminations and sending the Knights to an additional playoff game against PCU to determine the final seeding in the semifinals.

• PCU Dolphins

After losing the 2005 Finals series against Letran, the Dolphins returned with an almost intact lineup, except for coach Junel Baculi who resigned due to health reasons (see above). On their Opening Day game against Mapua, they were beaten by the Cardinals in a tightly contested, low-scoring game. The Dolphins then went on a four-game winning streak, including a victory against San Beda. They were beaten by 2005 Finals opponent Letran in another tightly contested game but then went on to win four more times in the second round, finally succumbing to San Beda.

The Dolphins went on to win their next assignment against Letran and Mapua, thus giving them a shot at the second twice to beat advantage going into the final four. After the Knights fell to the Red Lions in the final game of the eliminations, the Dolphins found themselves tied with Letran for second place. In their playoff game against Letran, the Dolphins came out very determined and controlled the game midway through. They then fought off a fierce rally by the defending champions and finally sealing the game in the final minute. So, after languishing in third place most of the season, PCU got the twice to beat advantage going into the Final Four against Letran.

• Letran Knights

The defending champions Letran Knights started the season in top form as they raced to a six game winning streak and seemed poised to sweep the first round of the eliminations. Their final assignment in the first round was the San Beda Red Lions, who are on a winning streak of their own after succumbing to PCU in their second game. The Red Lions, however came well prepared and jumped the gun on the Knights at the early goings and controlled the game all throughout, thus dealing the Knights their first loss of the season, with both teams sharing first place honors in the first round with an identical 6-1 win-loss records.

At the second round, Letran continued its winning ways, winning four straight(beating the bottom 4). At the 2006 PBA Draft, four Knights were drafted, including current players Boyet Bautista (Purefoods) and Aaron Aban (Alaska) However, after the draft, they were beaten by Intramuros archrivals Mapua in a squeaker, and were beaten by PCU in the 2005 Finals rematch. In their final game of the eliminations, they once again faced the Red Lions. This game was crucial to the Knights since they are fighting to keep their number two rank in the standings and the second twice to beat advantage in the Final Four. However, after a gruelling defense oriented game, they succumbed to the San Beda Red Lions forcing them into a rubber match with PCU. In the classification game, Letran was beaten by PCU and they ended the eliminations with a four game losing streak but more importantly, yielding the advantage to PCU in their upcoming encounter in the Final Four.

• Mapua Cardinals

One of the preseason favorites, the Cardinals returned with an intact lineup. After winning against PCU on Opening Day, they were dealt with consecutive loses against San Beda and San Sebastian. After winning the next two games, they were dealt with a heartbreaker against Intramuros archrivals Letran.

Mapua then got entangled on a dogfight for the last Final Four slot. But Mapua caught the last bus with a win against host CSB. Mapua now owned the fourth seed with a twice to win disadvantage against San Beda. The Cardinals, sporting black jerseys, were beaten by PCU on their last elimination round game.

Bracket

Second-seed game

With Letran and PCU both sporting 10-4 records, a classification game for the second seed - and the twice to beat advantage at the semifinals - was held.

After a tightly contested first quarter, the Dolphins went on a rampage, posting an eighteen point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. With increased taunting from both sides, the Knights mounted a furious comeback, trimming the lead to one point thanks to Mark Balneg's 6–1 run. Gabby Espinas made a driving lay-up with 39 seconds left to increase PCU's lead to three points. Aaron Aban missed a three-point and had to foul Espinas, but he made both free-throws to clinch PCU the #2 seed.^[8]

Semifinals

San Beda started tentatively with the match but managed to lead early at 10-4 with a Sam Ekwe put-back. After that, the Red Lions offense sputtered, which the Cardinals took advantage of racing to a 7 point lead at the end of the half. The Red Lions managed to crawl back to within two at the end of the third and it was one frustration after another before San Beda equalized late into the fourth period with free throws from rookie Pong Escobal. The Red Lions grabbed the lead for good after a three pointer from Menor and survived some late game heroics from the Cardinals who came to within a point before good defense from San Beda and a costly Mapua passing error sealed the Cardinals' fate with 4 seconds remaining.^[9]

PCU and Letran managed to trade baskets early in the game but the Dolphins played better basketball as they managed to score uncontested layups. The Knights managed to cut the lead into two points early in the third quarter but the Dolphins answered back and closed out the game, 72-50.^[9]

Finals

The Dolphins are in their third consecutive Finals appearance; they defeated the UPHDS Altas in 2004 under coach Loreto Tolentino, lost to the Letran Knights in 2005 with Junel Baculi at the helm, and are now facing the San Beda Red Lions.

The Red Lions, on the other hand, are in their first Finals appearance since 1997, where they were defeated by the Rommel Adducul-led San Sebastian Stags. They've last tasted the championship in 1978, with Chito Loyzaga as team captain.

Game 1

It was a nip and tuck affair in the first half with the Dolphins managing a slight margin at the end of the second quarter. San Beda however bounced back and outscored the Dolphins 20-5 in the penultimate quarter to pull away and draw first blood.^[10]

Game 2

San Beda started tentatively with poor shooting. Reigning MVP and focal point of the Red Lion defense, Sam Ekwe was also hobbled with a knee injury. The Dolphins took advantage of this situation and efficiently worked their offense to run the Red Lions to the ground in the first half. It was virtually over by the start of the 2nd half as the Lions continue to fire blanks and the Dolphins proceeded to spoil San Beda's bid to end 28 years of frustration.^[11]

Game 3

San Beda ended 28 years of frustration with a win over former champions PCU.^[12] Down by 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Dolphins made a furious comeback, cutting the lead to one point with 24.8 seconds remaining due to the exploits of Jason Castro. After another San Beda turnover, the Dolphins had an opportunity to win the championship with Castro dribbled out the time before passing to Beau Belga; Belga's shot bounced off the rim as Yousif Aljamal rebounded the ball, leading to San Beda's championship. It was the 12th seniors championship for the Red Lions. Forward Yousif Aljamal was named Finals MVP, after showing the same offensive consistency that was sorely lacking during their game 2 blowout loss.^[12]

Awards

Nigerian exchange student Samuel Ekwe got four out of five awards given by the NCAA Press Corps:^[13]

• Most Valuable Player: Samuel Ekwe (San Beda)
• Most Valuable Player (Finals): Yousif Aljamal (San Beda)
• Rookie of the Year: Samuel Ekwe (San Beda)
• Mythical Five:
  • Samuel Ekwe (San Beda)
  • Floyd Dedicatoria (JRU)
  • Gabby Espinas {PCU}
  • Jason Castro (PCU)
  • Khiel Misa (Perpetual)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Samuel Ekwe (San Beda)
• Most Improved Player: Boyet Bautista (Letran)

Statistical leaders

• Points: Khiel Misa (UPHD, 16.6)
• Rebounds: Samuel Ekwe (San Beda, 13.8)
• Assists: Mark Cagoco (JRU, 4.4)
• Blocks: Samuel Ekwe (San Beda, 2.8)
• Steals: Khiel Misa (UPHD, 2.1) and Floyd Dedicatoria (JRU, 2.1)
• Turnovers: Khiel Misa (UPHD, 4.6)

Suspensions

Seven players had been suspended by the Management Committee:^[14]

• John Escobal of the San Beda Red Lions for hitting Bryan Faundo of Letran Knights with a closed fist. Later downgraded into a warning after San Beda rector Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB, appealed the case.
• Rogemar Menor of the San Beda Red Lions for a deliberate foul.
• Alvin Se of the JRU Heavy Bombers
• John Raymundo and Gilbert Bulawan of the San Sebastian Stags
• Reigo Gamalinda of the San Beda Red Lions and Lei Navarro of the PCU Dolphins were both issued suspensions after their fraca at their second round game. Gamalinda sat out the game against the Mapua Cardinals, while Navarro sat out the game against Letran.
• Joferson Gonzales of the Mapua Cardinals for throwing an elbow against Samuel Ekwe of the San Beda Red Lions. Served one game suspension against the PCU Dolphins (last game).

Juniors' tournament

Elimination round

Bracket

Semifinals

Finals

Awards

Elwin Pascual won the MVP award in the Juniors' division^[13], although it was later returned after the conclusion of PCU High School's eligibility scandal.^[15]

• Most Valuable Player: Elvin Pascual (PCU) (returned)
• Rookie of the Year: Elvin Pascual (PCU) (returned)
• Mythical Five:
  • Elvin Pascual (PCU) (returned)
  • Ryan Buenafe (San Sebastian)
  • Raycon Kabigting (JRU)
  • Carlo Lituania (JRU)
  • Julius Wong (Letran)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Elvin Pascual (PCU) (returned)
• Most Improved Player: Michael Dizon (Perpetual)

References