A new chapter in Philippine collegiate basketball opened at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, with NCAA Season 102 delivering an upset, breakout performances, and late-game drama. 

The NCAA kicked off its new season with a traditional opening ceremony celebrating its student-athletes and marking its new broadcast partnership with Cignal TV and TV5. 

Once the ceremonies ended, the spotlight shifted to the court, where the College of Saint Benilde stunned defending champion San Beda University, while Colegio de San Juan de Letran survived a late rally from the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. 

Blazers Shock Defending Champions 

Benilde made the biggest statement of opening day, stunning San Beda, 77-68, in a tightly contested battle that saw the lead change 20 times. 

The Red Lions appeared poised to pull away after Jimmy Reyes drilled a three-pointer to give San Beda a 58-57 lead in the fourth quarter. The Blazers answered with a 7-2 run, setting up a tense finish. 

San Beda regained a 68-66 advantage with less than two minutes remaining, but Jhomel Ancheta, Raffy Celis, and Irele Galas delivered crucial plays down the stretch as Benilde closed the game strong. 

The Blazers also held a decisive 13-6 edge in fastbreak points, while San Beda struggled from beyond the arc, converting just three of 32 attempts. 

The victory ended a remarkable streak for the Red Lions, who suffered their first opening-day loss in 21 years. San Beda last dropped its season opener to Philippine Christian University in 2005. 

Ancheta led Benilde with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while rookie Matt Jucom made an immediate impact in his senior debut with 18 points. Galas and Celis added 12 and 11 points, respectively. 

For San Beda, UP transfer Aldous Torculas was the lone double-digit scorer, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists in his Red Lions debut. 

Walker, Letran Hold Off Perpetual 

Letran, meanwhile, survived a late scare from Perpetual, 84-77, in the opening game to begin its Group B campaign on a winning note. 

With Letran star guard Titing Manalili limited by his fourth foul midway through the third quarter, senior debutant Denzil Walker took charge and powered the Knights’ offense. 

Walker finished with a game-high 21 points and two steals before fouling out in the final minutes. Fellow newcomer Jimboy Estrada contributed 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Kevin Santos added 15 points and eight rebounds. 

Perpetual refused to go quietly, mounting a fourth-quarter rally behind Jan Pagulayan. His three-pointer tied the game at 74 with two minutes left, putting the Knights under pressure. 

Manalili returned to the floor and helped orchestrate a decisive 7-0 run, capped by his transition layup, to secure the victory. Pagulayan led the Altas with 18 points and six rebounds. 

Early Wins Set the Tone 

The opening-day results immediately shaped the early Group A and Group B races under the NCAA’s modified Season 102 format. 

Group A 

  • San Beda University  
  • College of Saint Benilde  
  • Jose Rizal University  
  • Lyceum of the Philippines University  
  • Mapúa University  

Group B 

  • Colegio de San Juan de Letran  
  • University of Perpetual Help System DALTA  
  • Arellano University  
  • Emilio Aguinaldo College  
  • San Sebastian College-Recoletos  

The tournament retains its three-phase structure, moving from intra-group play to crossover matchups before returning to intra-group action. 

One key change comes in the postseason. The No. 4 seed will now have a twice-to-beat advantage against the No. 5 seed in the play-in, replacing last season’s single-elimination format. 

With Benilde and Letran opening their campaigns with victories, both teams gain early momentum in their respective groups. San Beda, meanwhile, will look to bounce back as Season 102 moves into its weekday schedule at the Playtime Filoil Center.