The 1988 NCAA basketball tournaments were the 64th year of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)' basketball tournaments. The San Sebastian Stags won both rounds of elimination, becoming outright champions of the seniors' division; the San Beda Red Cubs also won both rounds in the juniors' division, with the JRU Light Bombers coming in second.
Contents
Elimination round
Format:
In a rematch of the 1987 first round finale, San Sebastian prevailed over Letran 77–73 preventing a comeback from the Knights which cut the 38–58 SSC lead to a 2-point 71–73 deficit. Paul Alvarez tipped on a miss from a fellow Stag, but Letran's Robert Ruiz split his two free-throws to keep pace with SSC, 72–75. Marlon Bolabola put up a free-throw, then Melchor Teves grabbed the rebound, that led to Crizalde Bade converting two free-throws for SSC off a Jerry Ruiz foul.to put San Sebastian up for good 77–73.
In the penultimate second round game for both teams, San Sebastian defeated Letran 85–84 as Eugene Quilban prevented Jerry Ruiz from catching the ball in a pick-and-roll attempt with 2.7 seconds left. With the Perpetual Altas needing to win to force a three-way tie for first, the Altas succumbed to a 14–4 SSC run with 5:20 to go in the second half to turn a 77–70 SSC lead to a 90–74 rout. The Stags held on to a 108–94 victory, clinching the second round pennant. With San Sebastian winning both halves of the elimination round, San Sebastian were named outright champions, their third league championship.
Elimination round
Format:
The San Beda Red Cubs won the first round pennant after a ten-point victory over the JRU Light Bombers, after trailing at halftime 33–39. Needing to win to force a playoff for the second round pennant, the Light Bombers fell short to the Red Cubs at the final game of the second round when John Henry Reyes split his free-throw at the final seconds of the game, giving San Beda a 1-point 92–91 victory.