Champions League Sweet 16 on

The ultimate showdown for collegiate supremacy unfolds today when Champions’ League 2003 kicks off at the Makati Coliseum.

Staking their opening claims for the bragging rights to be called the country’s No. 1 collegiate team are St. Francis of Assisi, which battles Adamson at 2:30 p.m. and Ateneo, which tangles with Jose Rizal University at 5 p.m.

On Saturday at the PhilSports Arena, NAASCU title-holder University of Manila battles San Sebastian, while NCAA champion Letran clashes with Emilio Aguinaldo College.

On Monday at the Makati Coliseum, UAAP champion Far Eastern University faces off with Las Piñas College, while University of the East begins its defense of the Champions League crown against Holy Cross of Davao College, the Visayas-Mindanao representative.

Cebu’s University of San Jose Recoletos then collides with Luzon representative Assumption

University-Pampanga on Nov. 18 at the Rizal Coliseum, followed by the encounter pitting CESAFI champion University of Visayas versus San Beda College.

All games are knockout matches.

Following the US NCAA format, the elimination round winners advance to the Round of 8 and the quarterfinal victors move to the Final Four.

"If the northern and southern legs of the tournament will be the gauge, this year’s Sweet 16 promises to be one huge slam-bang affair," said Joe Lipa, the Champions’ League chairman.

"The games to determine the representatives from the north and the south were played with so much intensity that you’d think the schools were already playing for the national championship," Lipa said. "This could on carry on to the Sweet 16."

PRISAA titlist Holy Cross trounced NOPCEA champion West Negros College in a heated southern leg final at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center in Dumaguete, while Emilio Aguinaldo College defeated University of Luzon and Assumption-Pampanga ousted BEAL champ University of Baguio in northern leg matches at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.