MANILA, Philippines - University of Cebu and Southwestern University made it to the finals of the CESAFI championship in Cebu to clinch berths in the Sweet 16 Finals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
The UC Webmasters, powered by big man Junmar Fajardo, currently lead the best-of-five finals, 2-0, and are one victory away from retaining the title they won over University of Visayas last year.
It marked the first time the UV Lancers failed to land in the finals after lording it over the field since 2000.
UC and SWU will take on the Visayas and Mindanao regional champions in the “step-ladder” phase of the Sweet 16 Finals and are favored to slug it out for the Southern Islands title and a place in the Final Four.
UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila and NCAA titlist San Beda College have earned automatic slots to the Final Four, leaving only two spots for the Luzon and Southern Islands champions.
Teams that completed the Final Four of the UAAP – Far Eastern University, Adamson and University of Santo Tomas – and the NCAA – San Sebastian College, Letran and Jose Rizal University – are also in the Sweet 16, vying for the Luzon championship.
Four seats in the Sweet 16 are at stake at the regional championships to be held Nov. 7-8 in Vigan City, Nov. 11-12 in Naga City, Nov. 15-16 in Davao City and Nov. 27-28 in Ormoc City.
The remaining two seats will be contested by eight Metro Manila teams – National University, De La Salle, Mapua , Lyceum, University of Manila, St. Francis of Assissi, Centro Escolar University and Technological Institute of the Philippines – on Nov. 8-10, at the FilOil Flying V Arena, San Juan.