Archers, Lions head PCCL list

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion La Salle and NCAA titlist San Beda set out to battle against the best college teams in the land in the 11th edition of the Phl Collegiate Champions League that opened in Cebu last Monday and will culminate in the finals on Dec. 19 at The Arena in San Juan City.

For topping their respective leagues, the Archers and the Lions got a free pass straight to the round-robin format Final Four, where they will be joined by the winner of the regional events in Southern Islands, currently ongoing, and Luzon-Metro Manila, which unfolds on Monday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.

La Salle, which beat Santo Tomas in three games to crown itself UAAP champion, is seeking to regain the crown it last won five years ago while San Beda, which recently trounced Letran also in a three outings, is shooting for its first ever title since the league opened a decade back.

“Our goal we’ve set starting now up to our first PCCL game on Dec. 9 is to try hard to get in shape because we’ve only resumed practice recently and everybody is understandably out of shape,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler in yesterday’s presser at the ELJ Building in Quezon City.

PCCL chair Reynaldo Gamboa, for his part, expects another exciting season.

“We are starting a new decade of search for the best collegiate teams in the country and there are encouraging signs that the basketball programs of schools and leagues in the provinces are producing positive results,” said Gamboa.

Gamboa also lauded television giant ABS-CBN for showing the games live including those from the regional division.

“The television exposure given by ABS-CBN Sports to this nationwide competition has encouraged more leagues to participate and take the opportunity to showcase their players in action,” he said.

At stake in the national championship is the top purse worth P100,000 to the champion and possession of the Manuel V. Pangilinan Perpetual Bronze Sculpture for the whole year.

Engraved in the trophy are past winners UST, the reigning champion, San Sebastian (2011), Ateneo (2007, 2009, 2010), La Salle (2008), University of the East (2003, 2006) and Far Eastern U (2004, 2005).

The second to fourth placers will receive P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

The ongoing Southern Islands championship is being contested by STI, Holy Trinity, Iloilo Doctors College and Southwestern U while the Luzon/Metro Manila stepladder comes off the wraps on Monday with Lyceum-Subic, University of Batangas, National U, Perpetual Help, FEU, San Sebastian, UST and Letran battling for seats.