MANILA, Philippines—Mapua star Clint Escamis, the reigning NCAA Finals MVP, thinks the new format is good for the league, which opens its 101st Season on October 1.

Escamis and the Cardinals are embracing the challenge of defending their title as the league shifts into a two-group format.

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“I feel like more people will tune in more to the games on a consistent basis,” Clint Escamis told the Inquirer.

“I’m a big fan of that (format) because it boosts school spirit all season round. We’ll just compete and formulate new strategies for the new format.”

Mapua is in Group A with fellow semifinalist Lyceum as well as Perpetual Help, San Sebastian and Arellano.

Group B, which some are dubbing as the “group of death,” meanwhile, is composed of Final Four squads San Beda and College of St. Benilde, Letran, Jose Rizal University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

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For transparency, last year’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds Mapua and Lyceum were automatically grouped in Pool A while the second and third-ranked squads Benilde and San Beda were put in Pool B.

The other schools were randomly selected via lottery by the league’s Management Committee on Friday.

Season 101 tips off on October 1 with the Cardinals taking on the Pirates, followed by a Final Four rematch between the Red Lions and the Blazers.