Hong Kong stint awaits PCCL champion

MANILA—The stakes just got higher in the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

Aside from the distinction as the country’s top collegiate team, this year’s PCCL champion will also earn the right to represent the Philippines in the 18th Super Kung Sheung International Basketball Invitational Championship set Dec. 14 to 19 in Hong Kong.

The incentive, PCCL chair Rey Gamboa said, will add more excitement to the “Sweet 16” knockout-format finals.

The Philippines, represented by a selection from Cebu City, wound up second in the 2008 Super Kung Sheung behind the Hong Kong team. The Cebuanos lost, 61-100, in the finals.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala expressed confidence that the champion team this time will give a good account of the state of collegiate basketball in the country.

Ten teams, led by UAAP champion Ateneo, NCAA titlist San Beda and Cesafi king University of Cebu, have already secured spots in the finals of the event sponsored by PLDT, Smart, Molten Balls and ABS-CBN.

The other finalists are Far Eastern U, Adamson, La Salle, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal U, Mapua and University of Visayas.

Six more qualifiers will come from Luzon-Metro Manila and Vis-Min Zonal qualifying games.

The two seats in the Vis-Min zonals will be disputed by Southwestern U, San Carlos U, University of Iloilo and the Mindanao region champion.