UST, Letran part ways in crucial PCCL match

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas tangles with Letran while Far Eastern U and National U collide in the other match today with the winners disputing the fourth and last Final Four berth in the PCCL’s National Collegiate Championship at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Tigers and the Knights, who made it straight to this stage by finishing second to the La Salle Archers in the UAAP and the San Beda Lions in the NCAA, respectively, face off at 4 p.m. in a match tipped to go down the wire.

The Tams and the Bulldogs, on the other hand, square off at 2 p.m. with the winner battling the victor of the UST-Letran showdown in tomorrow’s rubbermatch for the last semis seat.

La Salle, San Beda and Visayan region champion Southwestern U took the first three Final Four seats.

The Tams downed the San Sebastian Stags, 83-73, while the Bulldogs trounced the University of the East Warriors, 73-63, last Thursday to reach this phase of the event which stakes P100,000 to the champion.

UST, seeking a back-to-back title romp, will be without top gunner Jeric Teng while Letran will play minus reigning NCAA MVP Raymond Almazan. Both players are now in the PBA with Rain or Shine.

Still, the Tigers remained formidable with Cameroonian Karim Abdul, Aljon Mariano, Paolo Pe, Kevin Ferrer, Ed Dacquioag and Jamil Sheriff in the fold.

The Knights, meanwhile, are expected to lean on Jonathan Belorio, Jamil Gabawan, Reneford Ruaya and Reynaldo Publico along with Kevin Racal, Mark Cruz and Rey Nambatac.

“It will be a tough game,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, hoping to steer the Tigers to another championship.

“We came one win away from winning the NCAA title because of our defense and our running game so we hope to rely on these strengths again,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia.