CESAFI titlist USC battles UAAP king FEU for final berth in PCCL

CEBU, Philippines - The much-awaited showdown of champions between Cebu's pride University of San Carlos Warriors and UAAP kings Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the Final Four of the 2015 PCCL National Collegiate Championship will finally take place today at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Warriors and the Tamaraws were initially scheduled to lock up horns yesterday, as well as the Letran Knights and San Beda Red Lions in the other semifinal pairing but both games were cancelled due to heavy rains spawned by typhoon 'Nona' that pummeled Metro Manila.

Now that the storm has calmed, exciting hardcourt battle resumes, with the Warriors taking on the Tamaraws in the main match at 4 p.m., right after the Knights and the Red Lions figure in an expected grudge rematch of this year's NCAA finals at 2 p.m.

Unlike the Tamaraws who gained outright Final Four entry for being the UAAP champions, the Warriors of interim coach Bong Abad had to get past two tough Manila teams before reaching the semifinal round of the annual hoopla organized by the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

After coming through a great escape against the National University Bulldogs, 73-72, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. crown-holders went on to trounce the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers, 82-72, to set up a mouth-watering semis duel against the Tamaraws.

As usual, the versatile Cameroonian Shooster Olago will be at the cornerstone of USC's offense.

For the Warriors to inch closer to history, Olago again needs much support from his local comrades in the mold of Charles Pepito, Ian Tagapan, Nico Magat, Ian Ortega, Victor Rabat and their reliable three-man guard rotation of Gio Laguyo, Keifir Lim and Christian Maconodico.

Still, it's a tall order for the Warriors against the formidable Tamaraws led by their power five in 6-foot-8 Nigerian Prince Orizu, Russel Escoto, Roger Ray Pogoy,  Ron Dennison and Achie Iñigo.

The Tamaraws also boast of a much deeper bench that include Raymar Jose, Richard Escoto, Rey Mark Belo, Monbert Arong and Mike Tolomia, among others.

As they say though, the 'ball is round' in any sport.

If ever victorious, the Warriors will not only have a bright shot at the whopping P1 million cash prize and the bragging rights as the country's best ever collegiate ballclub, they will also be assured of matching the best ever finish by a Cebu team in the tournament achieved by the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, who finished second to the Ateneo Blue Eagles back in 2007. (FREEMAN)