NCAA 102 | GROUP BRACKETS

The NCAA revealed the groupings for NCAA Season 102, and to say that this is important is an understatement.

The teams in each group will face each other twice in the classification round.

So, you'd either want to be in the top group so you can meet the stronger teams later in the playoffs, or be in a weaker group to gain the perks of being the top seed.

Last season, the San Beda Red Lions secured the top seed in Group B. They easily defeated the LPU Pirates, continued their mastery over the Benilde Blazers, and swept the Letran Knights to win their 24th NCAA title.

This season, San Beda and Letran headline the two groups, with the Red Lions landing in Group A. Once again, they were paired with the Blazers and the JRU Heavy Bombers, but this time, they were placed in the same group as the Mapua Cardinals and the Pirates.

Most of Mapua's and LPU's core players graduated last season, but Benilde will enter Season 102 with reigning two-time MVP Allen Liwag, while JRU is fielding a souped-up lineup led by former Mapua players Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat.

Jomel Puno has returned for a final year with the Red Lions, but they also lost Yukien Andrada, Joe Celzo, and last season's Finals MVP Bryan Sajonia to the pros, Janti Miller to DLSU, and Nygel Gonzales to injury. Jhuniel Dela Rama, the former star rookie of the San Sebastian Golden Stags, will be redshirting this season.

That said, the Red Lions will defend their crown with a mix of high-profile rookies and a group of veterans eager to pick up where the departed players left off.

Anyway, here are the groups.

GROUP A	GROUP B
SAN BEDA RED LIONS NCAA 101 | CHAMPIONS (9-4)	LETRAN KNIGHTS NCAA 101 | RUNNER-UPS (8-5)
BENILDE BLAZERS NCAA 101 | FINAL FOUR (9-4)	ARELLANO CHIEFS NCAA 101 | QUARTERFINALS (7-6)
JRU HEAVY BOMBERS NCAA 101 | QUARTERFINALS (6-7)	EAC GENERALS NCAA 101 | PLAY-IN (4-9)
MAPUA CARDINALS NCAA 101 | QUARTERFINALS (7-6)	PERPETUAL ALTAS NCAA 101 | FINAL FOUR (9-4)
LPU PIRATES NCAA 101 | QUARTERFINALS (3-10)	SAN SEBASTIAN GOLDEN STAGS NCAA 101 | PLAY-IN (3-10)

Jomel Puno was supposed to turn pro with the San Juan Knights in the MPBL, but he suddenly had a change of heart. The Knights are loaded with talented young players, and I thought it was a good move for him to enter the 2027 PBA Draft as San Beda's main star.

All eyes are locked on Allen Liwag, though. The former Gilas Pilipinas cadet transferred from EAC to Benilde to improve his draft stock. And while he is already a highly sought-after prospect, winning a championship before moving to the pros, and perhaps capturing a third straight MVP award, would be a fitting sendoff.

That said, the other stars to watch include Letran's dynamic duo of Titing Manalili and Jimboy Estrada, Perpetual's Mark Gojo Cruz, Arellano's T-MC Ongotan, Mapua's Marc Cuenco, and LPU's returning ace guard, Mac Guadana.

In Group A, I can see the Red Lions and the Blazers battling for the top spot. In Group B, Letran will probably claim the top seed, with Arellano and Perpetual looking to secure the other twice-to-beat advantage.

Let's just say I'm locked in to see which team will reign supreme in NCAA Season 102.