MIT battles NU; DLSU plays Letran

MANILA, Philippines - Two semifinalists from the last NCAA and UAAP hostilities and a couple that missed the playoffs in both leagues seek spots in the Elite 8 of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at the Arena in San Juan.

Mapua, fourth placer in the 86th NCAA, battle National U at 2 p.m. while 73rd UAAP Final Four qualifier La Salle mix it up with Colegio de San Juan de Letran at 4 p.m. in a pair of Sweet 16 matches.

The Cardinals, who reached the stepladder semis of the NCAA tourney swept by San Beda, are up against a Bulldogs side gradually shedding off their whipping boy image.

Led by UAAP Mythical 5 member Emmanuel Mbe, NU fell a win short of forcing at least a playoff for a UAAP semis berth and is raring to make it all the way through in the PCCL. Handled by Joey Guanio, the Unigames champ Bulldogs thumped UCAA conqueror Colegio de Sta. Monica, 69-61, in the Metro Manila-Luzon zonals to reach the Sweet 16.

Winner of the Mapua-NU tussle will set a quarterfinal showdown with either defending PCCL titlist Ateneo or ISAA cage kings Lyceum. The Blue Eagles and the Pirates are set to play their Sweet 16 duel on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Green Archers eye revenge against the Knights, who slammed the door on their PCCL title-retention bid last year. Back then, Jaypee Belencion sizzled with 36 points on a record 10 triples to power Letran past La Salle, 83-72, and into the quarterfinals.

Though mostly rookies and sophomores, the Taft-based squad made it back to Final Four of the last UAAP meet. For their part, the Knights placed fifth in the recent NCAA and had to overcome CLAA kings St. Francis of Assisi in the PCCL MM-Luzon zonals for a Sweet 16 berth.

Awaiting the winner in the DLSU-CSJL match is the victor in the other Sweet 16 matchup between the Red Lions and University of the East on Thursday.

Safely in the next phase are CESAFI champ University of Cebu, which crushed University of San Carlos, 83-67, to nail the first Final Four berth in their homecourt last Friday; and UAAP runner-up Far Eastern U, which made the quarters with a 64-60 verdict over Jose Rizal U also last Friday.