Only two more semifinal slots are up for grabs after varsity champions Ateneo and San Beda earned outright Final Four berths in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
The five-time UAAP champion Blue Eagles and three-time NCAA titlist Red Lions were seeded as incentive for ruling the country’s two most prestigious collegiate leagues.
Fighting for the last two berths are the rest of the Sweet 16 challengers, who will clash in a grueling stepladder, knockout format in the Luzon-Metro Manila and Southern Island brackets.
UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas leads the Luzon-Metro Manila bracket composed of UAAP semifinalists National University and La Salle, NCAA finalist Letran and Final Four teams San Sebastian and Perpetual Help, and the regional champions in the South Luzon-Bicol and Metro Manila qualifying games.
Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champion Southwestern University banners the Southern Island bets along with University of Visayas, University of San Jose Recoletos, Visayas leg winner West Negros University and Mindanao leg titlist Holy Trinity College.