NCAA Season 97

Colegio de San Juan de Letran's chairman awarded the Head of Sports Varsity and External Relation to the host by giving him the NCAA Flag and to host NCAA Season 97 in the closing ceremony.[1] The Commission on Higher Education held a COVID-19 vaccination drive for the NCAA's student athletes which led to the NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM) to seriously consider the return of face-to-face events after solely holding online events in the last season due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The opening of season 97 was originally scheduled to begin on March 5, 2022 but was postponed to March 26, 2022 and tipped-off at St. Benilde Gym.[3][4][5]

NCAA Season 97, which has the theme of “Stronger Together. Buo ang Puso”, will have a five gamedays a week calendar (Tuesday-Wednesday & Friday-Sunday). Two games will take place during each gameday. The NCAA will only hold a single round-robin tournament with a play-in. The third- and fourth-ranked teams will face off after the regular season to determine the third seed. The loser of the game will face the winner of the bout between the fifth and sixth-ranked schools to determine the fourth seed.[6]

The season will be held with five gamedays a week calendar, with two games being played in each gameday. These gamedays are scheduled between Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.[7]

Elimination round

Pos	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Letran Knights	9	0	1.000	—	Twice-to-beat in the semifinals
2	Mapúa Cardinals	7	2	.778[lower-alpha 1]	2
3	San Beda Red Lions	7	2	.778[lower-alpha 1]	2	Proceed to third seed playoff
4	Benilde Blazers (H)	5	4	.556	4
5	Perpetual Altas	4	5	.444[lower-alpha 2]	5	Proceed to qualifying playoff
6	Arellano Chiefs	4	5	.444[lower-alpha 2]	5
7	EAC Generals	3	6	.333[lower-alpha 3]	6
8	San Sebastian Stags	3	6	.333[lower-alpha 3]	6
9	Lyceum Pirates	2	7	.222	7
10	JRU Heavy Bombers	1	8	.111	8

Source: GMA Network-NCAA Philippines
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) head-to-head record; 3) head-to-head point differential; 4) overall point differential
(H) Host
Notes:

1. Head-to-head record: Mapúa 1–0 San Beda
2. Head-to-head record: Perpetual 1–0 Arellano
3. Head-to-head record: EAC 1–0 San Sebastian

Play-in tournament

	Play-in games					Fourth seed playoff					Final seeds
	3	San Beda	63
	4	Benilde	57								3	San Beda	No. 3 seed
						4	Benilde						No. 4 seed
						5	Perpetual
	5	Perpetual	59
	6	Arellano	52

Playoffs

	Semifinals (Nos. 1 & 2 have twice-to-beat advantage)						Finals (Best-of-three playoff)
	1	Letran
	4
	2	Mapúa
	3	San Beda

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