Allan Mangahas of the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) was named Rookie of the Year in this season’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Tournament. Allan tops all rookie in points and in minutes played. Mangahas, the younger brother of James Mangahas of De la Salle – Manila, helped the Cardinals beat the San Beda Red Lions last Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

University of Perpetual Help’s Center Raffy Ynion took the Most Improved Player Award. Ynion played for the Atlas this season averaging 8.6 points per 22.4 minutes.

Meanwhile, San Beda Red Lion’s Center Sam Ekwe bags his second (2nd) Most Valuable Player Award. He edged Jason Ballesteros of San Sebastian Stags because of a new league rule that allows only players from Final Four teams to qualify for the top individual award.

Jason Ballesteros on the other hand, received the Defensive Player Award. Ballesteros averaged 3.4 blocks per game.

This season’s Mythical Team includes Stag’s Ballesteros, Lion’s Ekwe, Bomber’s Hayes, Cardinal’s Neil Pascual and Knights’s Jazul.

The Philippine NCAA uses FIBA rules, and under those rules is the FIBA classification point system. The four teams will have to play a playoff for the three Final Four spots.

San Beda is untouchable at the first spot at 11 3 and gets the first twice-to-beat incentive.

No.2 SSC-R 4 2 10
No. 3 MIT 3 3 9
No. 4 Letran 3 3 9
No. 5 JRU 2 4 8

San Sebastian will play Jose Rizal University and Letran will play Mapua. Winners of both games will play in another do-or-die match to determine which team gets the second seeding in the Final Four and the last of two twice-to-beat incentive. The losing team automatically gets the third seed. Losing teams in the first two matches will also play another match to determine who will take a vacation and who will sit at the fourth seed.

The two schools from Intramuros, which are three blocks apart, Letran College and Mapua Institute of Technology, will play on Septemeber 15 at 4 PM. The Cardinals beat the Knights in the first round but the Knights avenged that loss in the second round to split their games in the season.

Backcourt

This is a game in which both teams will be bringing stout backcourts to the table, however I would hand the edge to Mapua. Kelvin dela Pena (the reigning Most Valuable Player of the league) and Jonathan Banal comprise the best starting backcourt in the field. Even with Mangahas replacing Jonathan Banal in the backcourt isn’t too shabby.

Both Banal and Mangahas are dynamic players that knows how to distribute the basketball. What makes them dangerous is that because of their shooting abilities, they can get their own shots anytime they want.

Frontcourt

Daa, Guevarra, Foronda against the frontcourt of Mapua, led by their senior Niel Pascual, comprising of Jason Pascual, Mazo, and Sarangay would be a tie. These Big Men will battle for the boards and blocks. Note that, boards will be a great factor in this game. As the record shows, Mapua beat Letran when they lead in boards with 38-34 while Letran beat Mapua when the Knights had 57 boards against the Cardinal’s 41 boards. It may mean that whoever gets the most rebounds of the game will mostly win it.

Coaching

Both Louie Alas and Leo Isaac are veteran mentors but I would hand the edge to Isaac. Isaac probably have more mentoring experience, he is one of the assistant coach of Air21 and the coach of Noosa Shoes. Coach Louie Alas is considered to be the best defensive coach of the NCAA and will make good plays.

Intangibles

Allan Mangahas and Mark Sarangay gets a lot of time a rookie, which means Leo Isaac and the Cardinals are as young as it gets. Isaac is only in his third year as the Cardinal’s mentor. I would hand the intangibles edge to the Letran Knights.

Prediction

Mapua 62

Letran 60