The NCAA has officially canceled the scheduled battle for third place between San Beda University and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), citing logistical challenges.
The game was initially set for December 7 at 10:30 a.m., ahead of Game 2 of the NCAA Finals between Mapua University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. However, the league needed help securing a venue for the proposed schedule.
In a memorandum released on November 26, NCAA Management Committee Chairman Hercules Callanta explained that efforts to find an alternative date also proved problematic.
Rescheduling challenges
The league considered moving the third-place match to December 1, before Game 1 of the Finals, but this posed challenges. Callanta noted that the earlier date would have required teams to return from their breaks on short notice, potentially leading to player unavailability or injuries due to insufficient preparation time.
To avoid these risks, the NCAA decided to cancel the match altogether.
Finals to proceed as planned
The cancellation will not affect the NCAA Finals, which will go ahead as scheduled. The best-of-three series between Mapua University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde begins at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, December 1.
Both teams are eager to end prolonged championship droughts, with Mapua aiming to capture its first title since 1991 and Benilde seeking its first since 2000.
The Finals promise to deliver intense action as these two squads battle for NCAA supremacy, marking the culmination of an exciting season.