Webmasters gain; Baycats oust Falcons

MANILA, Philippines - University of Cebu and San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite earned seats into the Sweet 16 National Finals after hurdling their separate foes Sunday night in the Visayas-Mindanao zonals of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League in Cebu City.

The Webmasters, powered by 6-foot-9 center June Mar Fajardo, blew past fellow CESAFI member University of San Jose Recoletos while the NAASCU champions Baycats pulled off a stunning 88-78 upset of erstwhile unbeaten Adamson.

UC, San Sebastian and Adamson finished the single-round eliminations with identical 2-1 records. The Falcons were eliminated due to a lower quotient.

The Webmasters and the Baycats join Arellano and University of San Carlos as among the latest teams to earn a berth in the Sweet 16 set Nov. 23 joining nine other teams that include UAAP titlist Ateneo and NCAA champion San Sebastian.

It will be the first Sweet 16 berth for UC, which lost to University of the Visayas in the CESAFI finals recently, while San Sebastian earned its second straight appearance after bowing to Letran in last year’s tilt.

Meanwhile, the Luzon-Metro Manila zonal tournament unfolds today at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City with NCAA sixth-placer and UCAA champion Universal College leading the eight-team field that was divided into two groups.