Semifinalists from the UAAP and NCAA lead 24 collegiate teams shooting for the eight remaining slots in the Sweet 16 Finals of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship League.

Mapua Institute of Technology, fourth placer in the NCAA, heads the Zone 1 cast that also includes wild-card winner University of Santo Tomas, St. Louis University, University of Luzon, Arellano University and Lyceum University-Batangas.

University of the East has been picked as Zone 2 favorite over University of Nueva Caceres, Don Bosco College-Mandaluyong, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and St. Claire College.

Zone 1 and 2 games will be played at the Makati Coliseum from Nov. 3-6. Admission is free.

Letran College, though, is tipped to have a rough time against top Visayan teams in Zone 3 set Nov. 9 to 11 in Ormoc City. The zone also features West Negros University, University of San Jose Recoletos, University of Cebu, BIT Int’l College and AMA Computers.

Far Eastern University banners the Zone 4 contest that will also have host Xavier University, Ateneo de Zamboanga, University of Mindanao, University of San Carlos and Capitol University. Games will be held Nov. 14 to 16 at the Xavier gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

The top two teams in the four zonal competitions will join UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila University and runner-up De La Salle University, three-time NCAA titlist San Beda College and second placer Jose Rizal University in the Sweet 16.

Other outright qualifiers are champion teams San Sebastian College-Cavite (National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities), University of Visayas (Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.), Manuel L. Quezon University (Colleges and Universities Sports Association) and Universal College of Nursing (Universities and Colleges Athletic Association).