Eagles, Stags out to forge title clash

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and San Sebastian seek to arrange a title clash between the UAAP and NCAA champions as they take on San Beda and Far Eastern U in the Final Four of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City today.

But to forge a dream showdown, the Eagles and the Stags need to hurdle two tough rivals out to spoil their bid and bolster each other’s drive for the championship.

The reigning back-to-back UAAP champion Eagles battle the Red Lions, whose four-peat bid in the NCAA was foiled by the Stags, in the main game at 4 p.m.

The Stags, on the other hand, face off with the Tams, backstopped by a couple of members of the Smart Gilas developmental team, in an equally interesting semis duel set at 2 p.m.

Victories by Ateneo and San Sebastian will set the stage for the collision of the season’s best squads in a best-of-three series expected to go down-to-the-wire starting Wednesday.

The Eagles rode on American guard Kirk Long’s 19-point effort in turning back the Santo Tomas Tigers, 81-72, while the Stags leaned on NCAA finals MVP Jimbo Aquino’s 18-point explosion in blasting the Letran Knights, 84-65, in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Led by American behemoth Sudan Daniel, the Lions edged the Mapua Cardinals, 77-75, to clinch the first semis berth while the Tams, headed by Smart Gilas Pilipinas veterans Aldrech Ramos and JR Cawaling, edged the University of the East Warriors, 86-85.

PLDT, Smart, The Philippine STAR, ABS-CBN, Pagcor and Molten are the tournament’s chief backers.

Ateneo and San Beda were actually tipped to clash in last year’s title duel but La Salle came in to spoil the championship clash by beating the Lions then trouncing the Eagles for the crown.