The NCAA ushered its 80th season on June 26, 2004 before a packed crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. Ricky Palou is the year's NCAA commissioner, the opening rites were graced by the NCAA board members and other representatives of member schools.[1]
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win. Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.
San Beda, Mapua and San Sebastian wound up in a three-way tie at the end of the elimination round. However, only the Red Lions and the Cardinals will figure in a knockout match due to their superior tie-break quotients. [2]
San Beda made it to the final four cast for the first time in seven years as they relied on their tested leader Arjun Cordero, who shot nine of his 14 points in the final four minutes to lift the Red Lions past the Mapua Cardinals. [3]
In Game 1, Jeff Bombeo and rookie Yousif Aljamal combined for 25 points to lift the Red Lions past the Altas, who were playing without key player Vladimir Joe.
Jonathan Aldave nailed a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left to stun the PCU Dolphins in Game 1. After Robert Sanz drained his charities in the last 12 seconds for a 64-62 PCU lead, the Knights' Boyet Bautista dribbled the length of the court, drove down the middle to draw the defense to him and made a kick-off pass to the waiting Aldave, who delivered the night's most dramatic basket. [4]
Finals
A historic NCAA basketball series unfolds when University of Perpetual Help Altas and Philippine Christian University Dolphins vie for their first championship crown. The Dolphins are in their first finals appearance since joining the league in 1996 while the Altas will troop to the championship match for the first time in 15 years. [5]
Finals Most Valuable Player: Robert Sanz (PCU Dolphins)
Sophomore Jayson Castro drain a three-pointer with five seconds left in Game 1 as the Dolphins moved to within a win of capturing their first-ever NCAA crown. Head coach Loreto Tolentino was slapped with a one-game suspension for excessive complaining in their previous semifinal win against Letran. Tolentino's son Elvis called the shots for PCU on the bench.[6]
In Game 2, PCU posted a double-digit lead right from the first quarter and delivered the best first half they could play. The Dolphins dictated the tempo with Robert Sanz and Jayson Castro leading the charge, and rookie Gabby Espinas coming off the bench. PCU coach Loreto Tolentino steered the Dolphins in one of the most amazing turnarounds the league has ever seen.[7][8] Robert Sanz bagged the Finals MVP award. Before the game, Espinas was awarded both the season Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards, the first player to win both awards in the league on the same season.[8]
Finals Most Valuable Player:Rogemar Menor(San Beda Red Cubs)
In Game 2, Squires star Lucas Tagarda carried his team in the end game, as he made six of his 15 points in the final minute of the game, as Letran forced a winner-take-all Game Three.[9]
In the deciding game, Red Cubs team captain Ogie Menor exploded for 30 points and 20 rebounds, while teammates James Martinez and Jay-R Taganas added 15 and 8 points respectively, as they clinched the NCAA juniors championship.[7]
