Rivals Eagles, Archers aim for PCCL quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion La Salle, which gained a return stint in this tourney via the zonals, takes on a dangerous opponent in Letran in Day Two of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Sweet 16 Finals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig today.

Former winner and reigning UAAP champion Ateneo plays ISAA (Inter Scholastic Athletic Association) title-holder Lyceum-Manila in the day’s other game with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight of the tourney that will determine the best of the best in Philippine collegiate caging.

Far Eastern U and San Beda are the first two teams to reach the quarterfinals with victories over Arellano and San Sebastian-Cavite, respectively, in Monday’s opener of the event sponsored by PLDT, Smart, ABS-CBN, The Philippine STAR and Molten.

Ateneo is heavily favored against Lyceum but La Salle is tipped to face a tough challenge against Letran.

Both La Salle and Letran are laden with rookie players with the Archers missing the UAAP Final Four and the Knights beaten by the Red Lions in the NCAA semis this year.

The Archers will play under a new head coach in Dindo Pumaren, who has taken over from older brother Franz.

La Salle barely made the Champs League proper this year, needing to beat St. Francis of Assisi, Don Bosco Technical Colleges and University of Nueva Caceres in the Naga Zonal qualifying games.

A La Salle-Ateneo finale is possible but the Archers have to hurdle the Knights, the winner in the San Sebastian-San Carlos tiff then either FEU, UE or University of Cebu.

Ateneo seems to have a clear path to the finals in the other group with either San Beda and University of Visayas likely to be the Eagles’ semis opponent.