The NCAA Season 101 basketball tournaments were the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA) for its 101st season, during the 2025âÂÂ26 academic year. The tournament is being hosted by Mapúa University.
The men's tournament began on October 1, 2025, while the juniors' tournament began a day later. Both tournaments featured a new format, with two groups, and all teams qualifying to the playoffs, with the playoffs concluding on December 13.
In the men's tournament, the Perpetual Altas and the San Beda Red Lions both topped their respective groups. In the quarterfinals, the Altas defeated the JRU Heavy Bombers, winners of the play-in against the EAC Generals. San Beda also eliminated play-in winners Lyceum Pirates, which had defeated the San Sebastian Stags. The Letran Knights eliminated the Arellano Chiefs, which had the twice-to-beat advantage, while the Benilde Blazers needed two games to eliminate the defending champions Mapua Cardinals. In the semifinals, the Knights then eliminated the Altas, and the Red Lions eliminated Benilde. San Beda then won the NCAA title in the finals against Letran.
In the juniors' tournament, group winners Mapua Red Robins and EAC Brigadiers were defeated in the semifinals by the Arellano Braves and Letran Squires, respectively. The Squires then defeated the Braves in the finals.
On July 24, 2025, season hosts Mapúa University announced a modification to the overall format of both the men's and juniors' tournaments which will also be applied for volleyball. Initially described as mixing elements of the NBA play-in tournament and the U.S. NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, it was initially revealed that the teams are to be divided into two groups of five. The changes were due to Metro Manila hosting the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship, which caused the NCAA to delay the opening due to venue availability, and to make sure the tournament ends before Christmas.
On the day of the draw, on August 29, 2025, it was revealed that teams will be indeed divided into two groups of five teams, with each team playing the teams on its group twice, then teams on the other group once, for a total of 13 games each. The top three teams per group advance to the quarterfinals outright, with the top 2 teams in each group with the twice-to-beat advantage, and the bottom two teams figure in a play-in game. The quarterfinals pair a team from the opposite group. The semifinals and finals are best of three playoffs. The semifinalists from Season 100 are seeded, with the 1st and 4th placed teams being grouped together, as well as the 2nd and 3rd placed teams.
Playoff match-ups originally had the top 2 seeds per group separated until the finals if they made it to that stage. However, after the revision of schedules with the postponement of games due to Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong), the NCAA changed the semifinal pairings, where the top 2 seeds in the group, if both win in the quarterfinals, will meet in the semifinals instead of the finals.
Rico Quicho was named as this year's basketball commissioner. The juniors' tournament, which had been played separately since the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be held together with the men's tournament. Earlier reports published list Quicho as a San Beda University alumnus, but Quicho himself denied this, saying he studied at De La Salle University for his undergraduate degree, Ateneo Law School for his bachelors of law, and the University of California, Berkeley for his masters of law. Quicho teaches law at the San Beda College Alabang School of Law.
The seeding and draw for the men's tournament was the basis for the juniors' tournament, as well. The determination of the seeds was based on the results of the Season 100 men's tournament. The draw was held on August 29, 2025
Group B was labeled by fans as the "group of death" for the men's tournament, with Group A with hosts Mapúa having been described as the "easier" path.
Opening day is on Araneta Coliseum, with most game days held at Playtime Filoil Centre, four game days at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, and two game days at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the NCAA's former longtime home. Opening day of the juniors' tournament is at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Each team can have up to 15 players on their roster, with an additional up to three players in the injured reserve list.
The ban of foreign student-athletes first applied in Season 96 (2020) is still in effect, requiring all players to be Filipinos.
The men's tournament started on October 1, with the traditional host school vs. champion team opening game featuring the defending champions and host school Mapúa Cardinals going up against last season's host Lyceum Pirates.
The NCAA postponed November 9 and November 11 games due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan).
<section begin="NCAA 101 srs grp A standings" /><section end="NCAA 101 srs grp A standings" />
<section begin="NCAA 101 srs grp B standings" /><section end="NCAA 101 srs grp B standings" />
<section begin="NCAA 101 srs playoffs" /> <section end="NCAA 101 srs playoffs" />
The teams that finished fourth and fifth in their respective groups will play each other for quarterfinal berths.
Lyceum's loss against Arellano relegated both the Pirates and the Stags to the play-in.
JRU and EAC are locked in the play-in game.
The teams that finished first and second in their respective groups will have the twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals.
Perpetual clinched the first twice-to-beat advantage in Group A with Arellano's loss to JRU. The Altas clinched the twice-to-beat advantage with four games to spare. Arellano's win over Mapua gave the #1 seed in the group to the Altas.
San Beda clinched a quarterfinals berth after defeating JRU. They then clinched the top seed in Group B by defeating EAC.
Letran clinched a quarterfinals berth and the #3 seed with San Beda's win over EAC. Arellano clinched a quarterfinals berth win their win against Lyceum. Needing to win by at least four points against Mapua, the Chiefs seized the twice-to-beat advantage by winning over the Cardinals.
Benilde clinched a quarterfinals berth with their win against JRU. San Beda's win over EAC towed the Blazers to the #2 seed. Mapua clinched a quarterfinals berth on their overtime win against San Sebastian. The Cardinals settled for the #3 seed with their loss against Arellano. This is a rematch of the Season 100 Finals.
The semifinals are best of three playoffs.
Perpetual clinched its first semifinals berth since NCAA Season 97 (2022). Letran clinched its first semifinals berth since NCAA Season 98 (2022).
San Beda clinched its 19th consecutive semifinals appearance, starting from NCAA Season 82 (2006). Benilde clinched its fifth consecutive semifinals appearance. This is rematch of one of the previous season's semifinals.
A third place playoff will be played by the semifinals losers.
The finals is a best of three playoff.
The Letran Knights qualified to their first finals since NCAA Season 98 (2022). The San Beda Red Lions clinched their first finals appearance since NCAA Season 99 (2023). This is the first San BedaâÂÂLetran finals since NCAA Season 95 (2019), and the 17th time both teams met in the finals.
The awards were given prior to game 2 of the finals, at the Araneta Coliseum. <section begin="NCAA 101 srs awards" />
The Collegiate Press Corps awards a "player of the week" throughout the season:
These are for the group stage.
The following were the issued suspensions for this season:
The juniors' tournament started on October 2.
The NCAA postponed the November 9 and November 11 games due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan).
<section begin="NCAA 101 jrs grp A standings" /><section end="NCAA 101 jrs grp A standings" />
<section begin="NCAA 101 jrs grp B standings" /><section end="NCAA 101 jrs grp B standings" />
<section begin="NCAA 101 jrs playoffs" />*Overtime; number of asterisks denotes the number of overtime periods.<section end="NCAA 101 jrs playoffs" />
The teams that finished fourth and fifth in their respective groups will play each other for a quarterfinal berth.
The teams that finished first and second in their respective groups will have the twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals.
The semifinals are best of three playoffs.
A third place playoff will be played by the semifinals losers.
The finals is a best of three playoff.
The awards were given prior to game 2 of the finals, at the Araneta Coliseum. <section begin="NCAA 101 jrs awards" />