Wildcats, Lancers set PCCL showdown

MANILA, Philippines - Holy Trinity College of General Santos and University of the Visayas easily dispatched their respective rivals to arrange a duel in the second round of the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Sweet 16 at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City yesterday.

The HTC Wildcats, champions of the Mindanao qualifiers, waylaid West Negros University, 101-77, while the UV Green Lancers routed West Negros U, 79-55, to advance to the next phase of the stepladder phase.

Christopher Masaglang led the attack for the Wildcats with 20 points, firing 12 to power the squad to a 23-15 lead in the first quarter that paved the way for their blowout win.

Meylan Landicho added 18 markers, highlighting his production with 10 straight points that gave the Wildcats a 72-50 advantage.

McDenver Polistico added 15 for HTC, which posted its biggest lead at 83-55.

The Wildcats and the Green Lancers, meanwhile, clash today at 2 p.m. also at Cebu Coliseum to dispute the right to play Cesafi champ Southwestern U Cobras in the next phase of the Southern Islands competitions.

San Sebastian College-Recoletos and UAAP semifinalist National U tangle in the second game at 4 p.m.

The junior champions of UAAP, NCAA and CESAFI will challenge each other in a mini-series dubbed as “Game of Junior Champs” for the benefit of ABS-CBN Foundation project, “Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig”.

The games will serve as appetizer to the start of the Final Four of Champions League (PCCL) 2012 National Collegiate Championships.

Sacred Heart Schools-Ateneo de Cebu Magi Eagles, CESAFI Juniors champion, will participate for the first time in the showdown among the top junior teams in the country. The Magi Eagles will meet the perennial NCAA junior champion San Beda College at FilOil Flying V Arena, San Juan on Sunday.

UAAP junior titlist Far Eastern University will test the CESAFI champion Magi Eagles on Nov. 19, also at the Arena.

The last game of the mini-series is the showdown between the UAAP and NCAA junior champions.

The benefit games will be shown on Studio 23. Tickets for the benefit games are available on-line and at all SM Tickets outlets.