MANILA, Philippines--The finalists in the 71ST UAAP and 84th NCAA men?s basketball competition will earn outright berths in the ?Sweet 16 Finals? of the Philippine Collegiate Championship in November.

Also earning automatic slots, according to league chair Rey Gamboa Tuesday, are champion teams from the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU), Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), National Capital Regional Athletic Association (NCRAA), Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) and Colleges and Universities Sports Association (CUSA).

The national champion in the tourney recently launched by the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will represent the country in the 2009 Universiade Games in Serbia.

Over 250 teams will battle for the remaining seven berths in four zonal competitions where nine regional champions will clash against other qualifiers from the National Capital Region and Cebu.

The third and fourth placers in the UAAP and the NCAA will earn slots in the zonal contests for another shot at the final 16.

Top varsity teams from Regions 1 to 9 will dispute the regional titles.