Year 2 (12th overall) of the NCAA on ABS-CBN Sports is now underway.
The 92nd season of the NCAA kicked off last Saturday with the traditional opening ceremonies and the first seniors doubleheader, headlined by the Season 91 finals rematch of arch-rivals San Beda and Letran. The ceremonies were also highlighted by the retirement of San Beda basketball legend Caloy Loyzaga’s no. 14 jersey.
Unfortunately for the fans of the league, the following day’s seniors tripleheader was not aired on ABS-CBN Sports+Action. The reason: ABS-CBN and the NCAA agreed that they will only air games every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the season, save for last Saturday’s opener.
Not much is changed in the presentation of ABS-CBN’s coverage from Season 91. However, there is a new scheduling format, which include:
- Seniors tripleheaders every Tuesday and Friday unless specified
- Seniors doubleheaders every Thursday, usually preceded by juniors doubleheaders
- Four or five-game juniors slate every Monday
In essence, a week’s worth of NCAA seniors basketball coverage will amount to at most eight games per week. The utilization of tripleheaders and five-game slates on select dates is intended on shortening the duration of the season, however, postponement of games may take place in the event of natural calamities.
Most games will be held at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Select marquee matchups will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
This season’s NCAA on ABS-CBN Sports team will include the following:
Play-by-play announcers
- Andrei Felix
- Martin Javier
- Boom Labrusca
- Anton Roxas
Analysts
- Martin Antonio
- Migs Bustos
- Olsen Racela
- Mikee Reyes
- Renren Ritualo
Courtside reporters
- Sarah Carlos
- Roxanne Montealegre
- Myrtle Sarrosa
- Ceej Tantengco
Every game day will feature a number of interactive segments, such as halftime school and player features, ‘Smile, You’re on Cam’ and viewer tweets. If last season’s success was any indication, then expect a lot more of these throughout this season.
Aside from seniors basketball (with a mid-season all-star game to boot), the NCAA on ABS-CBN Sports will also cover the final four of women’s volleyball and beach volleyball. Highlights from other sports will also be featured on the ABS-CBN Sports+Action highlight show ‘The Score’, hosted by either TJ Manotoc or Anton Roxas.
All games will be seen on ABS-CBN Sports+Action, both in SD (channel 23) and HD (channel 166 and 701). It will also air via live streaming on the ABS-CBN Sports official website.
This season’s theme will be ‘Sports Builds Character: Achieving Breakthrough @Season 92’. San Beda College will be this season’s host.
After the unpredictable ending to Season 91, it will be interesting to see how Season 92 turns out. But if last season’s success was any indication, then wait and see what comes next this season.
From the Tube 
NCAA Season 92 will be opened tommorrow with new innovations to be introduced such as home games in their respective school gyms.
Same line-up of broadcast panel, as always (excluding Boom Labrusca). We also might see Eric Tipan covering again the games since he did cover few games last season.
That’s Season 93 to you, Gab.
I could see new faces on the broadcast crew next week. We’ll have to find out these new faces soon. As for the games in schools, good luck. Security could be an issue here given the NCAA’s past reputation for violence.
Also, elimination round volleyball games are expected to become a staple on S+A’s coverage, as promised by the league after the turnover ceremonies.
I have read the schedules from Rappler: the gyms of NCAA schools is good every Thursday at 4 p.m.
Triple-headers at SJ on Tuesdays and Fridays. In short, seven games per week.
I forgot
Surprised to find out that the BGM used in the broadcast coverage was also used for the sports newscast on CNN PH, which Andrei is one of the hosts.
Probably it’s not exclusive property of CNNPH, hence the use by ABS-CBN Sports.
Season 94 is upon us. Here is the broadcast panel:
Anchors:
Anton Roxas
Andrei Felix
Martin Javier
Mico Halili
Analysts:
LA Tenorio
Martin Antonio
Migs Bustos
Mikee Reyes
Renren Ritualo
Courtside Reporters:
Angelique Manto
Aya de Quiroz
Ceej Tantengco
Chase Orozco
Ganiel Krishnan
Roxanne Montealegre
That’s a first. An active PBA player working as a color commentator for the NCAA. Also it’s worth noting they now have six courtside reporters, unlike the first three years where they only had four. Well, ABS is fearful of their welfare and busy schedules, that’s why they had to go with six women manning courtside just to lessen some of that workload.
One other thing of note: Upfront, which was formerly exclusive to the UAAP, will now air during the NCAA basketball season as well.