Well-rested Doves, Stags brace for Big 8

Powerhouse teams St. Francis of Assisi and San Sebastian College enjoy the luxury of facing rivals coming off knockout matches when the Big Eight action of the Champions’ League unfolds on Nov. 25 at the FEU gym.

The Doves, the first team to advance after repulsing Adamson in the tournament’s opener, meet the winner between University of San Jose-Recoletos and University of Assumption-Pampanga while the Stags clash with the victor in the University of Visayas-San Beda encounter.

The other half of the Big Eight will see Far Eastern U taking on NCAA titlist Letran and Ateneo meeting Holy Cross of Davao College, conqueror of last year’s champion University of the East.

With FEU seeing action, the games will be played on a neutral venue to be announced later.

St. Francis, with national team standout Ranidel de Ocampo leading the charge, is expected to win it all this year.

The Doves are installed as favorites last year but bowed to FEU in the Big Eight.

De Ocampo had 19 points and 14 rebounds in their 62-55 win over Adamson. Peppery guard Al Vergara also made a good account of himself in the Doves conquest with a sterling all-around effort of 14 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

The other notable peak performers in the Sweet 16 were Ateneo’s Paolo Bugia, San Sebastian’s Red Vicente and FEU’s Arwind Santos.

Bugia scored nine of his 17 points in a furious Ateneo fourth quarter assault as the Eagles rallied past upstart Jose Rizal University, Vicente clustered five of his 13 points in the Stags’ 85-84 squeaker over University of Manila and Santos had a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds against CUSA champion Las Piñas College.