PCCL semifinals winners to be declared co-champions
University of San Carlos will have to sharpen its axe against Far Eastern U while Letran and San Beda renew their NCAA championship rematch in the National Collegiate Championship finals Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
League organizers were forced to shorten the tournament after Wednesday’s postponement due to Typhoon “Nona’’ by declaring the winners of both games as co-champions of this year’s national championship.
READ: NCAA, PCCL games Wednesday cancelled
The Warriors, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. champions, slew collegiate giants University of Santo Tomas and National U to arrange the title showdown with the Tamaraws, who were seeded outright after winning the UAAP crown.
Ending the impressive run of the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers, the Red Lions advanced to the meeting with their NCAA finals tormentor Letran Knights.
In view of uncertain weather conditions in the coming days, the Philippine Collegiate Championship League board decided to shorten the NCC competitions in consideration of safety and convenience to the students and players.
Cameroonian Shooster Olago was the hero against the 2014 UAAP champion NU Bulldogs in the Elite Eight after knocking down a go-ahead 12-footer with 1.7 seconds remaining and starred again for the Warriors with his dominating presence opposite the UST Growling Tigers.
“We’re excited because this is a big opportunity for us to showcase our talent here in Manila,’’ said USC coach Bong Abad, the chief architect of the Warriors’ title run in the Cesafi that ended a 57-year championship drought.
Wingman Charles Pepito, Caesar Ian Ortega, William McAloney and Ian Tagapan were also steady in those twin victories, something the seeded Tamaraws, headed by Mike Tolomia, Mark Belo and Ray Pogoy, should match in their debut in the step-ladder tournament.
“The one-day rest will allow us to recharge after playing a pair of tough games in two days,’’ said Abad.
The defending champion Lions weathered the late-game storm of the Technological Institute of the Philippines in the Last 6 on Tuesday and are in for a far tougher undertaking against the Knights.
Gone from the San Beda roster are Baser Amer, Art Dela Cruz and Ola Adeogun, giving coach Jamike Jarin a challenging task of putting a wager on newbies Robert Bolick, Daven Potts, Armand Noah, sophomore Donald Tankoua and seasoned point guard Roldan Sara.
Though Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal have moved over to the PBA, the Knights are still formidable with veterans Rey Nambatac, McJour Luib, Kevin Buenaflor, Felix Apreku and John Paul Calvo.
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