# NCAA Season 67 basketball tournaments

The 1991 NCAA basketball tournament was the 67th season in the Philippine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The season opens on August 3 at the Araneta Coliseum and ended on October 16 with the Mapua Cardinals winning back-to-back championships in the Seniors division and won their 5th NCAA crown.

## Teams

| Team | School | Men's coach |
| Letran Knights | Colegio de San Juan de Letran | Rudy Hines |
| JRC Heavy Bombers | Jose Rizal College | Egay Gomez |
| Mapúa Cardinals | Mapúa Institute of Technology | Joel Banal |
| PHCR Altas | Perpetual Help College of Rizal | Angel Ascue |
| San Beda Red Lions | San Beda College | Orly Castelo |
| San Sebastian Stags | San Sebastian College - Recoletos | Arturo Valenzona |

## Men's tournament
### Elimination round

Format:
* Tournament divided into two halves: winners of the two halves dispute the championship in a best-of-3 finals series unless:
** A team wins both rounds. In that case, the winning team automatically wins the championship.
** A third team has a better cumulative record than both finalists. In that case, the third team has to win in a playoff against the team that won the second round to face the team that won in the first round in a best-of-3 finals series.

#### Cumulative standings

No other team had a better cumulative record than the two pennant winners, so playoff for the Finals berth was not played.
| Pos | Team | W | L | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Mapúa Cardinals | 8 | 2 | 18 | Finals |
| 2 | San Beda Red Lions (H) | 8 | 2 | 18 | Finals |
| 3 | JRC Heavy Bombers | 5 | 5 | 15 | |
| 4 | San Sebastian Stags | 3 | 7 | 13 | |
| 5 | Letran Knights | 3 | 7 | 13 | |
| 6 | PHCR Altas | 3 | 7 | 13 | |
Mapua Cardinals wins the second round flag and forces a best-of-three title playoffs with first round winner San Beda College by downing the Red Lions on the last day of the eliminations on October 2.

### Finals

* October 9
| Mapúa Cardinals | 103–94 | San Beda Red Lions |
* ULTRA, Pasig
* October 14
| Mapúa Cardinals | 94–100 | San Beda Red Lions |
* ULTRA, Pasig
* Islands TV 13
* October 16
| Mapúa Cardinals | 91–90 | San Beda Red Lions |
| Mapua wins series 2–1 |||
* ULTRA, Pasig
* Finals Most Outstanding Player: Benny Cheng (Mapúa Cardinals)
In Game 1, Mapua had their biggest lead at 96-81 with 3:20 remaining. But the Red Lions' unlikely trio of Reynaldo Dionisio, Cornelio Manucat and last year's junior MVP Vincent Largo put San Beda to within 90-96 in the last 1:43. A triple by Olegario Topacio which beat the shotclock and two free throws by Reuben dela Rosa got the Cardinals off the hook.
With reserves Cornelio Manucat, Reynaldo Dionisio, Renato Morano and Jose Ramil Espina thrown into the limelight of championship action, the Red Lions broke away at 91-78 in the last 2:25 of Game 2. A 14-4 Mapua counter triggered by Olegario Topacio and Winchester Lemen put the Cardinals to within 92-95 in the last 45 seconds.
Cardinal slotman Benito Cheng beat all rebounders for a follow-up in the final five seconds of Game 3 and an awry pass spoiled the Red Lions' last offensive. There was no San Beda timeout and what ensued was a quick inbound to Cornelio Manucat who dribbled toward the centerline before issuing a breast-pass to a streaking Reynaldo Dionisio. The pass was too strong and a bit high, lipping Dionisio's fingertips before going out of bounds with a stream of Mapua supporters entering the court at the buzzer.

### Awards

* NCAA Season 67 men's basketball champions
* Mapúa Cardinals Fifth title, second consecutive title
* Most Valuable Player: Antonio Valeriano (San Beda Red Lions)

## Juniors' tournament
### Finals

* October 9
| Mapúa Red Robins | 75–93 | San Beda Red Cubs |
* ULTRA, Pasig
* October 14
| Mapúa Red Robins | 89–80 | San Beda Red Cubs |
* ULTRA, Pasig
* October 16
| Mapúa Red Robins | 60–79 | San Beda Red Cubs |
| San Beda wins series 2–1 |||
* ULTRA, Pasig
* Finals Most Outstanding Player: Tyrone Bautista (San Beda Red Cubs)
The San Beda Red Cubs won Game 1 off the heroics of Tyrone Bautista, Emerson Roque and Cesar Tolentino, who combined for 53 points. The Red Robins tied the series on Game 2. On the deciding Game 3, Bautista led the Red Cubs anew, winning back-to-back titles.

### Awards

* NCAA Season 67 juniors' basketball champions
* San Beda Red Cubs Eighth title
* Most Valuable Player: Tyrone Bautista (San Beda Red Cubs)