Search for nat’l college hoop champion unwraps

The quest for that one true champion gets off under the limelight as the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) lifted the covers off the 2018 National Collegiate Championship with qualifying games at various locations.

The NCR qualifiers were held recently at Lyceum gym and Letran topped the event after dismantling Perpetual, 83-77, to advance to the Luzon-NCR Regional championship slated at Jesse Robredo Coliseum in Naga City on Thursday.

Don Honorio Ventura Technical State U, meanwhile, topped the North/Central Luzon qualifiers at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga, to also advance to the Naga championship.

Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias will represent Visayas after defeating Iloilo Doctors, 102-82, at West Negros University Gym in Bacolod City. The school will advance to the Visayas-Mindanao Regional Championship series scheduled at Arcadia Lifestyle Center in Davao City starting on Dec. 3.

University of Visayas Green Lancers, 2018 champions of the Cebu varsity league, is seeded for the Visayas-Mindanao finale.

The remaining PCCL qualifying games are scheduled at Naga City for the South Luzon/Bicol Region starting on Wednesday and in Davao City starting Dec. 1.

Philippine Sports Commission Chair William “Butch” Ramirez lauded the partnership of PSC and Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) as a “a program recognizing excellence of student athletes in basketball.”