NCAA Season 77 basketball tournaments

NCAA Season 77Host school| Philippine Christian University

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| Men's Finals | G1 | G2| G3| Wins

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JRU Heavy Bombers | 74 | 95| 62| 1
San Sebastian Stags | 77 | 81| 95| 2
Duration| September 27 – October 2, 2001
Arena(s)| Rizal Memorial Coliseum
Finals MVP| Christian Coronel
Winning coach| Turo Valenzona (5th title)
Semifinalists|  Mapúa Cardinals
Benilde Blazers
TV network(s)| PTV/NBN
| Juniors' Finals | G1 | G2| G3 (OT)| Wins

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Letran Squires | 74 | 70| 63| 2
San Beda Red Cubs | 69 | 80| 61| 1
Duration| September 27 – October 2, 2001
Arena(s)| Rizal Memorial Coliseum
Finals MVP| Leland Ronquillo
Winning coach| Jing Ruiz (1st title)
Semifinalists|  San Sebastian Staglets
Mapúa Red Robins
| < Season 76 | 2001 | Season 78 >

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|

The basketball tournaments of National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) 77th season hosted by the Philippine Christian University began on July 7, 2001, at the Araneta Coliseum with Manila mayor Lito Atienza as the special guest and speaker, followed by the opening ceremonies and a quadruple-header.[1] Games then are subsequently held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The opening rites and the games were aired live by the Media Conglomerates Inc. over PTV/NBN through the facilities of Silverstar Communications, Inc.[1]

## Men's tournament

[edit]

### Elimination round

[edit]

#### Team standing

[edit]

Pos | Team  | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification

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1  |  JRU Heavy Bombers | 11  | 3  | .786  | -- | Twice-to-beat in the semifinals
2  |  San Sebastian Stags | 9  | 5  | .643[a] | 2
3  |  Mapúa Cardinals | 9  | 5  | .643[a] | 2  | Twice-to-win in the semifinals
4  |  Benilde Blazers | 8  | 6  | .571  | 3
5  |  PCU Dolphins (H) | 7  | 7  | .500  | 4  |
6  |  Letran Knights | 6  | 8  | .429  | 5
7  |  Perpetual Altas | 4  | 10  | .286  | 7
8  |  San Beda Red Lions | 2  | 12  | .143  | 9

Source: The Philippine Star
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if tied for #2 and #4, one-game playoff; 3) head-to-head record; 4) head-to-head point differential; 5) overall point differential
(H) Hosts
Notes:

1. ^ a b Head-to-head record: Mapua 1–1 San Sebastian, (head-to-head point differential: 0); overall point differential: San Sebastian +87, Mapua +7

#### Match-up results

[edit]

| Round 1| Round 2

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Team ╲ Game| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14
Letran| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Benilde| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
JRU| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mapúa| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
PCU| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
San Beda| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
San Sebastian| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual| | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Source: The Philippine Star
= Win;  = OT win;  = Loss;  = OT loss

#### Scores

[edit]

Results on top and to the right of the dashes are for first-round games; those to the bottom and to the left of it are second-round games.

Teams  | CSJL | CSB | JRU | MIT | PCU | SBC | SSC-R | UPHR

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Letran Knights | -- | 65–71  | 81–85  | 71–76 | 70–65  | 85–77 | 63–75 | 81–72
Benilde Blazers | 77–71*  | -- | 90–95  | 60–66  | 64–68  | 98–103*  | 71–77  | 71–75
JRU Heavy Bombers | 81–83  | 74–84  | -- | 62–56  | 82–70  | 103–98  | 55–54  | 80–73
Mapúa Cardinals | 62–55 | 61–70  | 88–85  | -- | 71–73  | 80–71  | 60–70  | 52–61
PCU Dolphins | 87–81  | 81–79  | 80–87  | 61–74  | -- | 85–93  | 55–61  | 62–64
San Beda Red Lions | 67–88 | 74–91  | 111–125*  | 66–68  | 75–82  | -- | 77–81 | 78–84
San Sebastian Stags | 83–62 | 69–72  | 75–81  | 81–71  | 65–72  | 84–69 | -- | 89–81**
Perpetual Altas | 70–71  | 63–76  | 87–102  | 72–80  | 69–74  | 61–82 | 64–76  | --

Source: The Philippine Star
Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

### Bracket

[edit]

| | | | | | | | | | |
| Semifinals
(Nos. 1 & 2 have twice-to-beat advantage)| | | Finals
(Best-of-three series)
| |
| 1|  JRU| 84| 99
| | |
| 4|  Benilde| 98| 76| |
| | | 1|  JRU| 74| 95| 62
| | |
| | | 2|  San Sebastian| 77| 81| 95
| 2|  San Sebastian| 58| 48| |
| | |
| 3|  Mapúa| 65| 44| |
| | |
| | |

### Semifinals

[edit]

San Sebastian and JRU have the twice-to-beat advantage. They only have to win once, while their opponents, twice, to progress.

#### (1) JRU vs. (4) Benilde

[edit]

PTV-4

September 20
5:30 p.m.

JRU Heavy Bombers | 84-98 |  Benilde Blazers

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Scoring by quarter: 17-26, 21-19, 21-21, 25-32
Pts: Nani Epondulan 22 |  | Pts: Sunday Salvacion 39

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

PTV-4

September 22
5:00 p.m.

JRU Heavy Bombers | 99-76 |  Benilde Blazers

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Pts: Nani Epondulan 35 |  |
JRU wins series in two games

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

In Game 1, the defending champions Blazers relied on its star, Sunday Salvacion, who capped 39 points in the game including six treys.[2] The game was a nip-and-tuck affair until midway in the first half, when Salvacion broke a 14-all deadlock. The Bombers never recovered and faced a 15-point deficit entering the final two minutes.[3]

The Heavy Bombers relied on its veterans to mount a huge lead, 58–32 in the third quarter and never looked back.[4] Defending champion Blazers, however, conspired a comeback by making ten triples, but it wasn't enough to push themselves on the way to Finals. Graduating players Ernani Epondulan finished with 35 points and Ariel Capus made 17 of his own.[5]

#### (2) San Sebastian vs. (3) Mapúa

[edit]

PTV-4

September 20
1:30 p.m.

San Sebastian Stags | 58-65 |  Mapúa Cardinals

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Scoring by quarter: 13-21, 23-11, 9-11, 13-22
Pts: Mark Macapagal 14 |  | Pts: Steve Marucot 18

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

PTV-4

September 22
1:30 p.m.

San Sebastian Stags | 48-44 |  Mapúa Cardinals

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Scoring by quarter: 16-11, 10-10, 8-14, 14-9
Pts: Paul Reguerra 10 |  | Pts: Jeff Martin 12
San Sebastian wins series in two games

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

The Cardinals, led by rookie point guard Jeffrey Martin, Steve Marucot, and Roberto Lagar found their rhythm in the final period of Game 1 to force the Stags to a rubber match. Lagar hit back-to-back treys midway in the final period to give his team the lead, 57–49. However, the Stags recovered and reduced the deficit, 59–58, thanks to Michael Gonzales' pair of charities in the last 21 seconds. The Stags went to fouls to stop the clock when Lagar missed his last free throw but Marucot's putback sealed the victory for the Cardinals.[2]

The Stags, who are enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage, relied on endgame breaks in Game 2 to eliminate Mapúa and advance to the Finals.[4][5]

### Finals

[edit]

The San Sebastian Stags are back again in the Finals after their disappointing defeat from CSB Blazers last season. They last held their five-straight championships from 1993 to 1997 and then the streak ended in 1998 at the hands of Letran Knights.

Meanwhile, the JRU Heavy Bombers has not seen a title since 1972. They came close to winning the title in 1999, only to falter to the Letran Knights. The disappointment continued last year when they were beaten twice by the San Sebastian Stags in the semifinals.

PTV-4

September 27
3:30 p.m.

JRU Heavy Bombers | 74-77 |  San Sebastian Stags

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Scoring by quarter: 13-18, 20-20, 26-15, 15-24
Pts: Nani Epondulan 16 |  | Pts: Clark Moore 15

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

PTV-4

September 29
3:30 p.m.

JRU Heavy Bombers | 95-81 |  San Sebastian Stags

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Scoring by quarter: 19-21, 28-14, 9-12, 39-34
Pts: Nani Epondulan 26 |  | Pts: Macapagal, Alfad 14 each

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

PTV-4

October 2
3:30 p.m.

JRU Heavy Bombers | 62-95 |  San Sebastian Stags

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Scoring by quarter: 18-23, 17-20, 9-19, 18-33
Pts: Ariel Capus 14 |  | Pts: Mark Macapagal 21
San Sebastian wins series, 2–1

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

* Finals Most Valuable Player: Christian Coronel (San Sebastian Stags)

The two teams clashed neck-to-neck all throughout Game 1 but the Stags are the better team in crunch time. The Heavy Bombers entered the final quarter with the lead when the Stags applied its pressure defense. Stags' Roy Falcasantos converted a layup in the last 48 seconds of the game to break a 74-all tieup then later converted a charity to give his team the win.[6][7]

JRU relied on the offense of season MVP Nani Epondulan, Joel Finuliar, Rendel Dela Rea, and Ariel Capus to register a 68–54 lead in the final quarter of Game 2 to keep the Stags at bay and then finally made a comeback to the series.[8][9]

Showing experience, the Stags never faltered from the start of Game 3, as they outclassed the Heavy Bombers by 33 points en route to their 10th NCAA championship. Nani Epondulan, the season MVP, tallied 13 points in the first half, but was made scoreless in the second half.[10][11]

### Awards

[edit]

NCAA Season 77 men's basketball champions

San Sebastian Stags
Tenth title

* Most Valuable Player: Ernani Epondulan (JRU Heavy Bombers)
* Mythical Five:
* Ernani Epondulan (JRU Heavy Bombers)
* Arjun Cordero (San Beda Red Lions)
* Jondan Salvador (Benilde Blazers)
* Harold Santa Cruz (Letran Knights)
* Nelbert Omolon (PCU Dolphins)
* Rookie of the Year: Ismael Junio (Letran Knights)
* Coach of the Year: Arturo Valenzona (San Sebastian Stags)

## Juniors' tournament

[edit]

### Bracket

[edit]

| | | | | | | | | |
| Semifinals
(Nos. 1 & 2 have twice-to-beat advantage)| | | Finals
(Best-of-three series)
| |
| 1|  Letran| W
| | |
| 4|  Mapúa| L| |
| | | 1|  Letran| 74| 70| 63*
| | |
| | | 2|  San Beda| 69| 80| 61
| 2|  San Beda| W| |
| | |
| 3|  San Sebastian| L| |
| | |
| | |

*Game went into overtime

### Finals

[edit]

September 27
1:00pm

Letran Squires | 74-69 |  San Beda Red Cubs

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Letran leads series, 1–0

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

September 29
1:00pm

Letran Squires | 70-80 |  San Beda Red Cubs

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Series tied, 1–1

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

October 2
1:00pm

Letran Squires | 63-61 (OT) |  San Beda Red Cubs

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|

Letran wins series, 2–1

Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

* Finals Most Valuable Player: Leland Ronquillo (Letran Squires)

### Awards

[edit]

NCAA Season 77 juniors' basketball champions

Letran Squires
12th title

* Most Valuable Player: Jay-R Reyes (Letran Squires)
* Rookie of the Year: Jay-R Reyes (Letran Squires)
* Mythical Five:
* Jay-R Reyes (Letran Squires)
* JC Intal (Letran Squires)
* Alvin Banes (San Sebastian Staglets)
* Mark Lester Benitez (JRU Light Bombers)
* Jonjon Tabique (San Beda Red Cubs)
* Defensive Player of the Year: Jay-R Reyes (Letran Squires)
* Most Improved Player: Mark Lester Benitez (JRU Light Bombers)
* Coach of the Year: Jing Ruiz (Letran Squires)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Villar, Joey (July 7, 2001). "NCAA season unfolds; St. Benilde faces Letran". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
2. ^ a b Navarro, June (September 21, 2001). "Benilde forces rubber match; Mapua Tech halts San Sebastian". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
3. ^ Cordero, Abac (September 21, 2001). "Salvacion saves Blazers". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
4. ^ a b Navarro, June (September 23, 2001). "Bombers, Stags forge final duel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 4, 2001.
5. ^ a b Cordero, Abac (September 23, 2001). "Bombers, Stags dispute crown". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
6. ^ Navarro, June (September 28, 2001). "NCAA: Stags nip Bombers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
7. ^ Villar, Joey (September 28, 2001). "Stags mute Heavy Bombers". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
8. ^ Navarro, June (September 30, 2001). "JRU Bombers force decider vs San Sebastian Stags". INQ7.net. Archived from the original on November 9, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
9. ^ Villar, Joey (September 30, 2001). "Bombers blast Stags, force 'rubber'". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
10. ^ Navarro, June (October 3, 2001). "Stags NCAA champs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
11. ^ Villar, Joey (October 3, 2001). "Stags claim NCAA crown". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 4, 2021.

Preceded by

Season 76 (2000)

|  NCAA basketball seasons
Season 77 (2001) | Succeeded by

Season 78 (2002)

|
|

* v
* t
* e

National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournaments

* Champions
* Men's final four
* results

Teams|

* Arellano Chiefs
* Letran Knights
* Benilde Blazers
* EAC Generals
* JRU Heavy Bombers
* Lyceum Pirates
* Mapúa Cardinals
* San Beda Red Lions
* San Sebastian Stags
* Perpetual Altas

Seasons|

| Pre-war era|

* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941

|

Pennant era|

* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983

Best-of-3 finals era|

* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996

Final four era|

* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021*
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Rivalries|

* Arellano vs. San Beda
* Battle of Intramuros
* Letran vs. San Beda
* Letran vs. San Sebastian
* San Beda vs. San Sebastian
* San Beda vs. Perpetual
* San Sebastian vs. JRU

*Played in early 2022

* v
* t
* e

National Collegiate Athletic Association (2024–25)

Members|

* Arellano Chiefs, Lady Chiefs and Braves
* Letran Knights, Lady Knights and Squires
* Benilde Blazers and Lady Blazers/La Salle Green Hills Greenies
* EAC Generals, Lady Generals and Brigadiers
* JRU Heavy Bombers, Lady Bombers and Light Bombers
* Lyceum Pirates, Lady Pirates and Junior Pirates
* Mapúa Cardinals, Lady Cardinals and Red Robins
* San Beda Red Lions, Red Lionesses and Red Cubs
* San Sebastian Stags, Lady Stags and Staglets
* Perpetual Altas, Lady Altas and Junior Altas

Sports|

* Basketball (3x3)
* Basketball (5-on-5)
* Badminton
* Beach volleyball
* Cheerleading
* Chess
* Football
* Lawn Tennis
* Soft Tennis
* Softball
* Swimming
* Table Tennis
* Taekwondo
* Track and field
* Volleyball (indoor)
* General championships

Related|

* NCAA South

*[Pos]: Position
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[PCT]: Win percentage
*[GB]: Games behind
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template