Archers, Stallions take on qualifiers

CUSA titlist Manuel Luis Quezon U and UAAP runner-up La Salle are the seeded teams taking on zonal qualifiers in Day Two of the 2008 Champions League Sweet 16 at The Arena in San Juan today.

The MLQU Stallions battle NCAA third placer Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m. while the Archers tackle Cebu-based University of San Carlos Warriors at 4 p.m., disputing berths in the Round of Eight of the tourney which stakes to the champion the right to represent the country in the 2010 Universiade in Serbia on top of a P1 million cash and scholarship grant.

Favorites Ateneo and San Beda have advanced to the next round of the event sponsored by Smart, PLDT, KFC, Flying V, Fil-Oil and The Philippine STAR.

La Salle is favored versus San Carlos though the Archers are said to be lacking in preparation and setting out for today’s match minus playmakers Simon Atkins and LA Revilla.

“We haven’t practiced since the UAAP so we will just come out fighting with our system and hearts,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren.

USC, for its part, is playing without head coach Jay Ramirez, who’s left in Cebu for health reason. Assistant coach Mike Reyes will call the shots for the team that produced four-time PBA MVP winner Ramon Fernandez.

Odds are about even in the MLQU-Mapua tiff.

“They (MLQU) can’t be champions if they’re not good. We’ll surely have a difficult time against this team,” said coach Leo Isaac, who’s calling the shots for both Mapua and Arellano in this event.

Isaac said Kelvin dela Peña has left a big void in the team on his graduation to the pro league.

Other teams taking part in the Sweet 16 are Universal College of Nursing, Letran, San Sebastian-Cavite, UE, University of Visayas, JRU and FEU.

The second and third placers will win P400,000 and P300,000, respectively, in scholarship and cash prizes.