Aspiring to bring the games closer to the students, six campuses will host games on their homefloor in the first round of the NCAA Season 93 basketball tournaments.
Letran, Arellano, Mapua, San Sebastian, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Perpetual will serve as venues in the first round of NCAA on Tour, which are scheduled on Thursdays.
The Chiefs will first host San Sebastian’s juniors and seniors teams on July 13, while the Cardinals will follow suit on July 20 as they play Perpetual.
The Golden Stags will bring the action to their Cavite campus on July 27 when they battle JRU; the Knights will host St. Benilde on August 3 in Intramuros; the Generals renew their rivalry against Lyceum on August 10; and the Altas take on the reigning champions San Beda in Las Piñas on August 17.
Other teams are scheduled to host games in their respective campuses in the second round.
“The idea is to reignite the student’s passion for the NCAA by bringing the games straight to them,” said NCAA Management Committee chair Fr. Glyn Ortega, OAR, of San Sebastian. “Also, it will be part of our celebration of our 100th year anniversary a few years from now.”
The NCAA Season 93 tips off on July 8, Saturday, at Mall of Asia Arena, with the opening ceremonies set at 12 noon.
Host San Sebastian will clash against San Beda in the curtain-raiser at 2 p.m., followed by the 4 p.m. tiff between runner-up Arellano and last season’s Final Four contender Mapua.
The Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan will still serve as the main venue for the NCAA, with triple-headers being held on Tuesdays and Fridays.