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| San Beda and Letran headline what could be the "group of death" in the NCAA group stages. NCAA (file photo) |
MAKATI--At least four teams, which many fans think could at least make the Final 4, found themselves grouped together after the NCAA held its group draw for the upcoming men's basketball tournament.
College of St. Benilde, San Beda, Letran, and Emilio Aguinaldo College, which all finished among the top six teams after last season's elimination round, make up Group B along with Jose Rizal University.
Fans, though, expect the Heavy Bombers, who were diffused into last place last year, to be competitive too under new head coach Nani Epondulan, which could mean Group B can easily be considered the "group of death".
Meanwhile, defending champion Mapua has cross-district rivals Lyceum, Perpetual Help, San Sebastian, and Arellano with them in Group A.
Under this fast-paced format, teams will play opponents just within their group twice during the group stages.
The top three teams per group will enter the quarterfinals outright, while the other two teams per group will play again for a third time in the play-in games to determine the last quarterfinalists.
The playoffs, from the quarterfinals to the finals, are all best-of-three series, with the Top 8 round to be done in a crossover format.
The NCAA is tentatively set for an Oct. 1 start.
