 |
| The NCAA is back on Cignal. NCAA |
MANILA—For the second time since the early 2010s, Cignal takes over the NCAA broadcasting rights, and with the UAAP also in its fold, this marks the first time post-pandemic that both collegiate leagues are with the same broadcast partner.
So, how will the NCAA games be aired live this time?
According to Miguel Vea, Cignal's vice president for sports business development, the coverage of the men's basketball games will be mainly through live streaming and a new cable channel that will cater to the league.
All the games will be aired live on NCAA Next, Cignal's new league-only channel exclusively for the country's oldest amateur sportsfest.
One Sports will also air the games on its official YouTube channel.
On the other hand, the NCAA will still get some national free TV mileage as the nightcap of the Monday and Thursday schedules will be aired live on RPTV.
NCAA will also have games on Tuesdays and Fridays, all exclusively on NCAA Next and One Sports' YouTube channel.
Just like Season 101, the 10 teams will be divided into two groups, with each ballclub playing twice against teams from the same group and once against the squads from the other group for a total of 13 games per college.
Jonas Cabochan, the president of the NCAA management committee for Season 102, revealed that the fourth seed after the group stages will now have a twice-to-beat advantage against the fifth seed in the play-in games to determine the last two quarterfinalists.
The crossover quarterfinals will remain a two-leg affair, with the top two teams per group holding a twice-to-beat advantage each.
The semifinals and finals will still be best-of-three affairs, while a one-game showdown between the losing semifinalists will still happen for third place.
Host school San Beda begins its quest for back-to-back NCAA titles against College of St. Benilde in the first game of the season on Sept. 13, 3 p.m., at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Letran, the other finalist from last year, opens its quest for unfinished business against Perpetual Help in the nightcap at 5 p.m.
Having primetime games is similar to Cignal's first run as the NCAA broadcaster in the 2010s under the name NCAA on AKTV.
The JRU Heavy Bombers, Lyceum Pirates, and Mapua Cardinals join the Red Lions and Blazers in Group A, which many fans consider the "group of death".
Group B, on the other hand, will have the Knights, Altas, Arellano Chiefs, EAC Generals, and San Sebastian Golden Stags.
