MANILA, Philippines – The NCAA is looking at tapping referees from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) for its Season 94 basketball tournament that opens on July 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

University of Perpetual Help's Frank Gusi, who chairs the NCAA Management Committee, said the pool of game officials from the MPBL will take the place of the referees from the Basketball Referees Association for Schools, Colleges, and Universities (BRASCU), which the league hired a season ago.

"The pool of referees from the MPBL will officiate this year," said Gusi.

League commissioner Arturo "Bai" Cristobal, back at the helm for the second year in a row, confirmed the development but stressed that the NCAA board will only finalize the move this week.

"The league will make the final decision this coming week," he said.

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The new pool of officials will be first employed right on Season 94's very first game pitting defending champion San Beda College with host Perpetual Help at 2 p.m. followed by the 4 p.m. encounter between San Sebastian College and last year's losing finalist Lyceum of the Philippines University.

The league will be officially ushered in at 12 noon.

Meanwhile, Gusi said the NCAA on Tour will continue this game with Perpetual Help, Letran-Calamba, Jose Rizal University, Arellano University, and La Salle Greenhills or San Sebastian-Cavite each hosting first round games.

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