Cobras edge USC Warriors in Game One

MANILA, Philippines - Southwestern University held off University of San Carlos, 59-55, to gain the headstart in their best-of-five series for the CESAFI-Cebu and PCCL Overall Southern Islands titles at the Cebu City Coliseum in Cebu Monday.

The SWU Cobras, last year’s Southern Islands titleholder, are seeking to become the top Visayas-Mindanao team for two consecutive years. SWU beat University of Visayas in last year’s series to claim the title.

Earlier, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, representing Visayas islands region, eliminated Mindanao champion Holy Trinity College, 75-69, with Cullen Testa and Kim Bryan Dimaranan scoring 20 points and 13 points, respectively for the Rams.

The Rams, coached by Rolandro Aledron, will next meet CESAFI fourth placer University of San Jose-Recoletos in the Vis-Min Qualifying games knock-out series for a spot in the Elite Eight stage of the 2014 National Collegiate Championship.

Already assured of seats in the Elite Eight phase are UAAP finalists the FEU Tamaraws and NU Bulldogs, and CESAFI teams the University of San Carlos Warriors and the Southwestern U Cobras. Other seats are reserved for the top two NCAA teams and the winners of Luzon-Metro Manila and Vis-Min Qualifying games.

Two more regional games are scheduled during the first week of November to determine the qualified teams for the Luzon-Metro Manila Qualifying games. The South Luzon-Bicol games will be held at J.C. Lobredo Coliseum, Naga City on Nov. 3-4, with the participation of champion teams from Sorsogon, Quezon province, Naga, Tabaco, Batangas, Cavite and Laguna.

The North-Central Luzon regional games are scheduled on Nov. 3-5, 2014, to be held at Lyceum North Western University Gym, Dagupan City. Participating are the collegiate champions of Vigan, Baguio-Benguet, Pangasinan, La Union, Pampanga and Zambales.

The Champions League (PCCL) National Collegiate Championship is sponsored by ABS-CBN, Phoenix Petroleum, Molten Balls, Fil-Oil Flying V Sports, Fog City Creamery and Foccacia. Tickets are available at SM Tickets online.

For details, visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.