Sport Basketball | Founded 1938 | |
 | ||
No. of teams 24 teams:
8 - Men's
8 - Women's
8 - Juniors Most recent
champion(s) Season 79 (2016)
Men's
– De La Salle Green Archers
Women's
– NU Lady Bulldogs
Juniors
– FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws | ||
The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) holds its basketball tournaments from July to October. Basketball is a mandatory sport in the UAAP. All eight universities participate in the Men's, Women's, and Juniors (Boys') tournaments.
Contents
- Pre first expansion format
- First expansion format
- Second and third expansion format
- Final four format
- Sweepers advantage
- Regular final four
- Step ladder final four
- UAAP basketball champions
- Early years
- First expansion
- Second expansion
- Third expansion
- Final Four era
- Number of championships by school
- Statistics
- Championship streaks
- Final Four records
- Rookie of the Year
- Facts and trivia
- References
The tournament is divided into two divisions, the Seniors' division, which is further subdivided into the Men's tournament, for male collegiate players, and the Women's tournament for female collegiate players. The other division is the Juniors' which is also subdivided into two tournaments for the male and female high school athletes.
The UAAP basketball sport has a rich history of schools establishing dynasties. UE won a record seven consecutive basketball titles from 1965-1971 albeit the third one was a shared championship with UST. Ateneo had a 5 year winning streak from 2008 to 2012. Two other schools ended their championship streak at four. UST won it from 1993-1996 and La Salle from 1998-2001.
Championship in basketball is the most coveted title that schools aspire for during a UAAP season, but such aspirations have resulted in many controversies in the league. There are protests filed by the member-schools against each other almost every season. Ironically, the league has a handbook of its rules and regulations.
Pre-first expansion format
Before the UAAP's first expansion, teams would play a single round robin where the team with the best record would be crowned champions. If two or more teams are tied, they would be declared co-champions. No quotient system or knockout games were used to break ties.
First expansion format
Teams play a double round robin. The winner of the first round play the winner of the second round in a 1-game championship to determine the champion. Ties for round winners are broken by knockout games.
If a team wins both rounds, it is automatically declared the champion, regardless if it was a sweep or not. If a team fails to win either rounds, but ends up with a better over-all record than either of the round winners, that team will challenge the second round winner for a championship slot against the first round winner.
Second and third expansion format
Teams play a double round robin. The top two teams (over-all record) after the double round robin play in the Finals with the #1 seed holding a twice-to-beat advantage. If a team sweeps the double round robin, they are automatically declared champions.
Final four format
The tournament currently uses the Final Four format, first implemented in 1993. The Tournament begins with a double round robin elimination, where a team plays the other teams twice to determine which teams will qualify to the semi-finals (also called Final Four). The top four finishers enter the Final Four phase.
Sweeper's advantage
Previously, if a team sweeps the double round robin, they are automatically declared champions. However, after UST's sweep in 1993, it was modified so that the sweeping team would automatically qualify to the best-of-three Finals. After UE swept their way to the Finals in 2007, it was again modified so that the sweeping team would now automatically qualify to a best-of-five Finals, holding a 1-0 game advantage.
Regular final four
If no team sweeps the double round eliminations, the four top teams (and tiebreakers, if applicable) qualify for the regular postseason.
The regular post-season is divided into the semi-finals (also called Final Four) and the Finals. In the semi-Finals, the two top seeds (#1 & #2) have a twice-to-beat advantage against the lower seeds (#3 & #4).
The surviving teams face off in a best-of-three Finals, where the team which notches two wins first wins the championship.
Step ladder final four
If a team wins all of the games in the elimination round, the step ladder format is used, where the unbeaten team has a bye up to the best-of-5 finals holding a 1-0 game advantage. The third and fourth seed will figure in a knockout game; the winner of that game will face the second seed with a twice-to-win disadvantage. The surviving team meets the first seed at the Finals.
UAAP basketball champions
Won the triple crown
Won the men's double (men's and juniors' championships)
Won the seniors' double (men's and women's championships)
Early years
The foundation of the UAAP by FEU, NU, UP and UST on 1938.
First expansion
Adamson University, Manila Central University, University of Manila and University of the East were admitted in 1952 on a two-year probationary membership status. Only UE retained as permanent member. MCU pulled-out in 1962. Adamson was readmitted into the league in 1970.
Second expansion
Ateneo was accepted as a member in 1978.
Third expansion
La Salle was accepted as a member in 1986.
Final Four era
Introduction of the Final Four format
Notes
Number of championships by school
Notes
Statistics
The first ever sweep in UAAP basketball history was recorded by the FEU Tamaraws in 1981. [1]
Championship streaks
Notes
Final Four records
For men's statistics, see UAAP Final Four.* Does not include 5 seasons (1997–98, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2010–11 and 2014–15) where Ateneo swept the elimination round and automatically advanced to the Finals.
^Does not include the 2013-14 season where NU swept the elimination round and automatically advanced to the Finals.
Rookie of the Year
Prior to 2005, all players playing in their first year (including transferees and those elevated from "team B") are eligible for the award. In 2005, the rule covering the seniors division was changed. Only fresh high school graduates are eligible.