NEW UAAP champion La Salle and four-time NCAA titlist San Beda await their semifinal opponents as varsity action heats up in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) this week.
The Green Archers and the Red Lions earned outright berths in the round-robin Final Four, leaving the other top-ranked squads from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to fight for the last two slots in a stepladder Sweet 16.
High school stars, though, get a chance to strut their stuff in a side show as ABS-CBN Foundation stages a benefit event featuring three juniors champions.
National University and San Beda, both coming off perfect seasons, and Tiong Lian Basketball League titlist Hope Christian High School tangle in the “Games of Champions,” which will be played as appetizer to the Final Four games.
The Bullpups pulled off an amazing 16-0 sweep to bag the UAAP juniors crown, while the Red Cubs also had an incredible 20-0 run to capture their fifth straight NCAA juniors title.
PCCL chair Rey Gamboa said the top four collegiate teams will receive special awards in recognition of their ranking in the nationwide tournament.
The Sweet 16 battle in the Southern Islands division got going yesterday with the University of Visayas, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champion, leading six teams from Visayas and Mindanao.
Out to challenge the Green Lancers are Northern Mindanao winner STI-Cagayan de Oro, Southern Mindanao bet Holy Trinity College of General Santos City, Visayas titlist Iloilo Doctors College, and Cesafi runners-up Southwestern University and University of San Carlos.
In the Luzon-Metro Manila division, vying for a Final Four berth are UAAP squads University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and National University; NCAA teams Letran, Perpetual Help and San Sebastian; North-Central Luzon winner Lyceum of Subic Bay; and South Luzon-Bicol champion University of Batangas.
For more information, visit the PCCL’s website (CollegiateChampionsLeague.net), Facebook fan page (Philippine College Champions League) and Twitter account (@pccleague2013).