MANILA, Philippines—University of Cebu booked a return trip to the Sweet 16 of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League after reaching the Cesafi finals opposite Southwestern University.
Powered by big man Junmar Fajardo, the Webmasters reached the semifinals of the PCCL last season, losing to eventual champion Ateneo.
The Cobras, on the other hand, clinched an outright entry to the Sweet 16 for the first time, taking the place of perennial contender University of Visayas.
UC currently leads SWU, 2-0, in the best-of-five series of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.
Both UC and SWU have a golden chance of cracking the round-robin semifinals as they face the Visayas and Mindanao regional champion in the step-ladder phase of the Sweet 16 Finals.
Already assured of semifinal berths are UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila and NCAA titlist San Beda College, leaving only two spots for the Luzon and Southern Islands champions.