Champs League: Ateneo, SBC seeded in semis
MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion Ateneo and NCAA titlist San Beda have automatically advanced to the Final Four of the Champions League (PCCL) 2011 National Collegiate Championship by winning their respective leagues.
The Blue Eagles, the reigning national champions, captured their fourth straight UAAP crown by beating Far Eastern U while the Red Lions swept the San Sebastian Stags to retain the NCAA diadem.
The champions of the country’s premier collegiate leagues are already seeded in the round-robin semis.
The Lions, who tied the Letran Knights for most titles with 16, are aiming to become the first non-UAAP team to win the national championship. Their best finish was third during the 2009 season.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are hoping to become the first team to win three consecutive national crowns.
The Tams and the Stags will join the Lions and the Eagles in the Sweet 16 along with Adamson, University of Santo Tomas, Letran and Jose Rizal U.
Two Sweet 16 slots are also reserved for the finalists of the ongoing CESAFI tournament in Cebu, according to PCCL executive director Joe Lipa.
Under the new format, a team from Visayas and Mindanao is assured of representation in the Final Four.
The other Sweet 16 slots will go to the top two teams in the Metro Manila qualifying games and the regional champions from North/Central Luzon, South Luzon/Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao.
The schedules of the regional championships and the Metro Manila qualifying games are as follows:
North/Central Luzon on Nov. 7-8 at Vigan City; Metro Manila on Nov. 8-10; South Luzon/Bicol on Nov. 11-12 at Naga City; Mindanao on Nov. 15-16 at Davao City; and Visayas at Ormoc City on Nov. 27-28.
Readers who can correctly pick the other qualifiers to the Sweet 16 Finals get a chance to win prizes from Champions League sponsors.
For more information, visit www.ChampionsLeague.net.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=742491&keyword=sp_pba
