EXCEPT for some minor tweaks in the semifinal format, NCAA basketball will be back to normal in Season 98 unfurling on Sept. 10.
Season 97 Management Committee chairman Dax Castellano of host College of St. Benilde said the league is leaning towards returning to its double-round robin elimination format when Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) takes its turn to host.
In the last season topped by the Lettan Knights, the league opted to shorten the season to a single-round format.
“Back to two rounds,” said Mr. Castellano during the presser hosted by league television coveror GMA 7 to unveil the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-Star players at its main office in Quezon City on Sunday.
The season will open with Letran, which is heavily favored to claim a three-peat feat, battling host EAC and Mapua tackling San Beda in the only other game.
Interestingly, the country’s oldest collegiate league has set its All-Star Game on Oct. 14 at a still unspecified venue.
It will be the second All-Star Game the league will hold this year after staging one on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena that was graced by not just the league’s best and brightest, but also some Kapuso Stars headed by Mark Herras, Jason Abalos and Rocco Nacino.
Other GMA talents who saw action were David Licauco, Mavy Legaspi, Luis Hontiveros, Eric Vijandre, Gil Cuerva, Pancho Magno, Jose Sarasola, Paul Salas and Kirst Viray. — Joey Villar
