UB leads PCCL South Luzon-Bicol cast

Two-league king University of Batangas stands as favorite in the South Luzon-Bicol regional championship as the Brahmans shoot for a third straight Sweet 16 stint in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).

Three teams, however, aim to spoil the return bid of the Brahmans, who are riding on a banner year after a pair of title romps in the NCAA South and the United Calabarzon Collegiate League.

Lewis College, the Basketball Intercollegiate Championship of Sorsogon titlist; Naga College Foundation, champion in the Naga City Intercollegiate Championship; and Amando Cope College, PCCL Tabaco City Challenge winner, aim to challenge the Brahmans’ regional dominance in the three-day qualifiers that kicked off yesterday in Sorsogon City.

The regional finals is set tomorrow and will be aired by ABS-CBN at 2 p.m. on Monday by Studio 23.

Amando Cope looms as a strong contender after winning its sixth straight Tabaco City league crown, while Naga College also turned back Ateneo de Naga in the Naga City Intercollegiate Championship.

UAAP champion La Salle and the NCAA Finals winner between San Beda and Letran gained outright entry to the Final Four, while more than half of the Sweet 16 berths have already been secured.

Mindanao’s STI-Cagayan de Oro and General Santos City’s Holy Trinity College are among those who advanced to the round of 16. J. W. Payo