Champions League SL-Bicol regional on

MANILA, Philippines - The South Luzon-Bicol regional competitions of the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League got under way in Sorsogon City with five teams vying for a spot to the Zonal Championships.

They include the Ateneo de Naga Golden Knights, Naga champion; M.S. Enverga U Wildcats, Quezon champion; Amanda Cope College, Tabak champion; Bicol College-Daraga Maroons, Legaspi champion; and Computer Communications Development Institute (CCDI) Wildcats, Sorsogon champion.

Three regional games, featuring 15 other provincial champions will be held, according to national tournament director Joe Lipa.

The nationwide series is sponsored by PLDT, Smart, Molten and ABS-CBN.

The other regional competitions will be held in North-Central Luzon involving champions from Vigan, Baguio, Pangasinan and Pampanga; the Visayas Islands (except Cebu) comprising Ioilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Bohol, Tacloban and Ormoc ; and the Mindanao region with Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, Gen San City and Zamboanga competing.

The Zonal games stake six seats to the Sweet 16 Finals.

Among the teams joining the zonals are the National University Bulldogs, UE Warriors, Letran Knights, Arellano U Chiefs, Colegio de Sta Monica Cougars (UCAA champion), Lyceum of the Phils Pirates (ISAA champion) and University of Manila Hawks (NAASCU champion).

The top four teams of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have already secured the first eight seats in the finals.

The UAAP is led by defending national champion Ateneo de Manila, Far Eastern University, La Salle and Adamson.

From the NCAA are qualifiers San Beda, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal University and Mapua.

Two finals seats are also reserved for CESAFI (Cebu). Contesting the berths are University of Visayas, University of Cebu, University of San Carlos Warriors and Southwestern U Cobras.

Details: www CollegiateChampionsLeague.net