LA SALLE emerged as the clear frontrunner even if the protagonists in the Luzon-Metro Manila leg of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) have yet to be completed.
The Green Archers’ fierce rival Ateneo had begged off from the tournament, leaving the former UAAP champions to compete against Jose Rizal University, Perpetual Help, Centro Escolar U, St. Clare, Diliman College and two other squads from North-Central Luzon and South Luzon-Bicol.
Led by Jeron Teng, the Archers will start their quest in the stepladder knockout contest against the JRU Bombers on Nov. 9 at First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities gym in Tanauan City, Batangas.
Only the No. 1 team in the regional games will advance to the Elite Eight bannered by new UAAP champion National University and five-time NCAA king San Beda.
The Luzon-Metro Manila cast will be complete by next week as both the North-Central Luzon qualifiers at Lyceum North Western Uy Gym in Dagupan City and the South Luzon-Bicol games at Robredo Coliseum in Naga City will fire off on Monday.
Other teams assured of Elite Eight berths are UAAP runner-up Far Eastern U, surprise NCAA second placer Arellano, Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.’s (Cesafi) finalists Southwestern U and University of San Carlos, and Visayas-Mindanao leg winner University of Visayas. For inquiries, visit CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.