NCAA Season 67 basketball tournaments

Format:

• Tournament divided into two halves: winners of the two halves dispute the championship in a best-of-3 finals series unless:
  • A team wins both rounds. In that case, the winning team automatically wins the championship.
  • A third team has a better cumulative record than both finalists. In that case, the third team has to win in a playoff against the team that won the second round to face the team that won in the first round in a best-of-3 finals series.

No other team had a better cumulative record than the two pennant winners, so playoff for the Finals berth was not played.

Mapua Cardinals wins the second round flag and forces a best-of-three title playoffs with first round winner San Beda College by downing the Red Lions on the last day of the eliminations on October 2.[1]

In Game 1, Mapua had their biggest lead at 96-81 with 3:20 remaining. But the Red Lions' unlikely trio of Reynaldo Dionisio, Cornelio Manucat and last year's junior MVP Vincent Largo put San Beda to within 90-96 in the last 1:43. A triple by Olegario Topacio which beat the shotclock and two free throws by Reuben dela Rosa got the Cardinals off the hook.[2]

With reserves Cornelio Manucat, Reynaldo Dionisio, Renato Morano and Jose Ramil Espina thrown into the limelight of championship action, the Red Lions broke away at 91-78 in the last 2:25 of Game 2. A 14-4 Mapua counter triggered by Olegario Topacio and Winchester Lemen put the Cardinals to within 92-95 in the last 45 seconds.[3]

Cardinal slotman Benito Cheng beat all rebounders for a follow-up in the final five seconds of Game 3 and an awry pass spoiled the Red Lions' last offensive. There was no San Beda timeout and what ensued was a quick inbound to Cornelio Manucat who dribbled toward the centerline before issuing a breast-pass to a streaking Reynaldo Dionisio. The pass was too strong and a bit high, lipping Dionisio's fingertips before going out of bounds with a stream of Mapua supporters entering the court at the buzzer.[4]

The San Beda Red Cubs won Game 1 off the heroics of Tyrone Bautista, Emerson Roque and Cesar Tolentino, who combined for 53 points.[2] The Red Robins tied the series on Game 2.[3] On the deciding Game 3, Bautista led the Red Cubs anew, winning back-to-back titles.[4]