Eight teams vie for the honor of being called as the best collegiate squad in the country as the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Elite Eight commences on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Defending champion San Beda is seeking a third straight crown after winning the title in 2015, the last staging of the event where the Red Lions were hailed as co-champions together with Far Eastern University.
“The objective of the PCCL is to provide incentives and recognition to school teams in the provinces and giving opportunities to local talents to be exposed on the national stage,” said PCCL chairman Rey Gamboa.
The tourney will see the participating teams divided into two groups, playing a single round robin format with the top two teams advancing in the crossover semifinals.
UAAP champion Ateneo banners Group A together with NCAA bridesmaid Lyceum, Cesafi titlist University of Visayas, and Southern Luzon champion Naga College Foundation.
San Beda, meanwhile, will take on UAAP runner-up La Salle, Mindanao champion Holy Trinity College, and NCR qualifier San Sebastian.
Winners of the crossover semifinals will proceed to the one-game knockout championship duel slated on February 15 at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The retoooled La Salle and Holy Trinity open festivities at 1 p.m., followed by the tiff between NCAA rivals San Beda and San Sebastian at 3 p.m., before ending the day with the clash between Ateneo and Naga College Foundation at 5 p.m.