The UAAP Season 79 basketball tournaments are held in school year 2016–17.

In the semifinals, the higher seed has the twice-to-beat advantage, where they only have to win once, while their opponents twice, to progress.

This is the fifth overall Finals matchup between the De La Salle Green Archers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

In the semifinals, La Salle has the twice-to-beat advantage, where they only have to win once, while their opponents twice, to progress.

The FEU Baby Tamaraws had the twice-to-beat advantage after beating the Ateneo Blue Eaglets for the second-seed, which led to a virtual best-of-three playoff series.