UV Lancers advance to PCCL National Finals

CEBU, Philippines —  The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers swept the Naga College Foundation Tigers in their best-of-three finals series with a decisive 89-72 victory in Game 2 to clinch the Regional Championship of the 2018 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) last Friday night at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Davao City.

Prior to that, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) grandslam champions under the tutelage of Gary Cortes had to get past Visayas champion Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias and Mindanao titlist Holy Trinity College to seize the PCCL Vis-Min title.

The Lancers then wiped out Luzon/NCR regional champion Naga Tigers to advance to the National Finals where they will face either the UAAP champion Ateneo Blue Eagles or the NCAA crown-holders San Beda Red Lions on January 21 in Manila.

Win or lose, the Lancers already matched their best ever showing in the 15-year history of PCCL when they finished runner-up to Ateneo in 2007, thanks to the new league format.

The last time the Lancers made it to the Final Four was in 2014 when they outlasted the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 63-60, in an all-Cebu duel to settle for third place honors. - EBV