DEFENDING champion San Beda will once again have to navigate a tough group come NCAA Season 102, as the country’s oldest collegiate sporting tournament drew its brackets on Thursday at the Philippine Columbian Association Sports Club in Manila.
The Red Lions, hosts of the upcoming season, are in Bracket A together with perennial powerhouse College of St. Benilde, an up-and-coming Jose Rizal University side, and resurgent Mapua with Chito Victolero and Lyceum with Jamike Jarin.
Season 101 runner-up Letran headlines Bracket B, alongside Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Perpetual, and San Sebastian.
The 'Grand Ol' League' started implementing the group stage format last year - one that was fairly well-received, as it shortened the season by five games, and curbed non-bearing matches near the end of the tournament.
While there will be no eliminated team after the 13-game classification phase, placing will be very important, as the top two of each bracket gets a twice-to-beat advantage, while the bottom two will have to duke it out in the play-in for the final quarterfinals spots of their respective groups.
Last year, San Beda also found itself in the ‘Group of Death,’ where wrestled with Letran, Benilde, EAC, and JRU – ultimately topping the bracket before going on to win their 24th title, most in league history.
While groupings are already set, the season's opening date and venue and the NCAA's newest broadcast partner remain in flux as of writing time.
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