Webmasters battle Olympians in PCCL

MANILA, Philippines - CESAFI back-to-back champion University of Cebu seeks to defend its Southern Islands overall crown as the Sweet 16 step-ladder phase resumes today at Ormoc Astrodome in Ormoc City.

Led by Junmar Fajardo, the Webmasters clash with the Mindanao region champion STI Olympians.

In the other knockout game, the Southwestern U Cobras square off with the Visayas region champion. At presstime, the Visayas regional championship was being contested by Iloilo winner University of Iloilo Wildcats and Leyte champion AMA Computer Learning Center Titans.

UC team manager Baldomero Estenzo is wary of the STI Olympians who swept the Mindanao regional games at Almendras gym in Davao City recently.

“We have never played against the Olympians, and so far, what we just know about them is that they are able to mount an effective running game to beat their opponents,” said Estenzo.

Still Fajardo is confident of its chances and is actually looking forward to a match up with Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter in the finals of the Champions League (PCCL) National Collegiate Championship.

The winners will meet tomorrow for the Southern Islands overall title and a seat in the Final Four. UC is the defending Southern Islands champion.

Also at stake tomorrow is the Luzon-Metro Manila bracket championship between the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights. Both NCAA teams earned the trip to Ormoc City by surviving the tough step-ladder games of the Luzon-Metro Manila bracket, knocking out UAAP teams Adamson U Falcons and FEU Tamaraws.

The winners of the Nov. 30 games at Ormoc City will join outright qualifiers Ateneo Blue Eagles, UAAP and defending National Collegiate champion, and San Beda College Red Lions, 2011 NCAA champion, in the Final Four.

The Final Four round robin is set to start Dec. 5 at the FilOil Flying V Arena, San Juan.

The games will be covered live by ABS-CBN Sports over Studio 23. The PCCL National Collegiate Championship is supported by Smart, M. V. Pangilinan, Molten Balls, FilOil Flying V and SM Ticketing.