Romwel Anzures

The NCAA head and deputy coaches with Commissioner Atty. Rico Quicho (center) in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball press conference. Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines.

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788590625735IMG_0806.jpeg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">The NCAA head and deputy coaches with Commissioner Atty. Rico Quicho (center) during the NCAA Season 102 men&rsquo;s basketball press conference. <em>Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines.</em></span></span></span>MANILA &mdash; The NCAA Season 102 men&rsquo;s basketball tournament will retain last year&rsquo;s group setup but with one key change, as fourth-seeded teams will now get a twice-to-beat edge in the play-in round.</div><p>The 10 teams were split into two groups for the first time in NCAA Season 101, which also introduced the play-in and quarterfinal rounds. The league likewise shifted the Final Four and Finals to best-of-three series.</p><p>Under the setup, the top three teams from each group advance outright to the quarterfinals, with the top two squads earning twice-to-beat advantages.</p><p>The fourth- and fifth-ranked teams, meanwhile, head to the play-in round. Last year, the games were knockout matches, meaning the losing team was immediately eliminated.</p><p>That changes in Season 102, with the fourth-seeded team in each group now getting a twice-to-beat advantage over the fifth seed.</p><p>NCAA Season 102 Management Committee chairman Atty. Jonas Cabochan of host San Beda University said the new provision gives teams more incentive to avoid finishing last in their respective groups, especially since no team will be eliminated before the play-in round.</p><p>&ldquo;We hope to increase the level of competition,&rdquo; Cabochan said. &ldquo;Hopefully, the teams who will make it to the top four within the group will advance. And hopefully, the excitement will be there.&rdquo;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/8/31/ncaa-san-beda-embracing-adversity-to-defend-crown-correct-mistakes-of-past-2019"><strong>READ: San Beda embracing adversity to defend crown, correct mistakes of past</strong></a></div><p>Reigning men&rsquo;s basketball champion San Beda faces a tough task as it landed in what is being dubbed the &ldquo;Group of Death,&rdquo; alongside preseason favorites Jose Rizal University, College of Saint Benilde, Mapua University and Lyceum of the Philippines University in Group A.</p><p>San Beda&rsquo;s rival, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, is in Group B alongside Arellano University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, University of Perpetual Help and San Sebastian College.</p><p>In Season 101, Lyceum and JRU secured the No. 4 seed in their respective groups.</p><p>Despite lacking a twice-to-beat advantage, both the Pirates and Heavy Bombers advanced to the quarterfinals by eliminating the Golden Stags and Generals, respectively.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4eMOmD7cqVU?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament will retain last year’s group setup but with one key change, as fourth-seeded teams will now get a twice-to-beat edge in the play-in round.</p>

The NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament will retain last year’s group setup but with one key change, as fourth-seeded teams will now get a twice-to-beat edge in the play-in round.

NCAA: Fourth-seeded squads get twice-to-beat edge in play-in round

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NCAA: Fourth-seeded squads get twice-to-beat edge in play-in round

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 05, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

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