Two titles are up for grabs when University of San Carlos and Southwestern University clash in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) championship series starting today at Cebu City Coliseum.
The winner of the best-of-five series will not only bag the premier collegiate crown in the Visayas, but also capture the Southern Island crown of the annual Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).
Right before the title clash, the PCCL Visayas-Mindanao qualifier also gets going with University of Visayas, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and Holy Trinity College of General Santos battling in a series of knockout games.
The winner of this leg will join the SWU Cobras and the USC Warriors as the South’s representatives in the Elite Eight of the nationwide Champions League.
Other teams already assured of slots in the Elite Eight are UAAP finalists Far Eastern University and National University, as well as the finalists in the ongoing NCAA tournament.
In Luzon, action starts next month with the South Luzon-Bicol and North-Central Luzon regional qualifiers.
Top teams from Sorsogon, Quezon, Naga, Tabaco, Batangas, Cavite and Laguna will clash in the South Luzon-Bicol regional leg from Nov. 3 to 4 at Robredo Coliseum in Naga City.
The North-Central Luzon regional games will pit squads from Vigan, Baguio-Benguet, Pangasinan, La Union, Pampanga and Zambales on Nov. 3 to 5 at Lyceum North Western University Gym in Dagupan City.
The Cesafi finals and the PCCL regional championship will be aired on a delayed basis by ABS-CBN Sports and Action channel on Studio 23.
The PCCL is sponsored by ABS-CBN, Phoenix Petroleum, Molten Balls, Fil-Oil Flying V Sports, Fog City Creamery and Foccacia. Tickets are available at SM Tickets online. Jasmine W. Payo