MANILA, Philippines - University of Baguio edged Lyceum of Subic Bay, 95-93, Monday to win the North-Central Luzon regional championship of the Champions League (PCCL) in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
The UB Cardinals, mentored by Joel Flores, leaned on Clyrel Elefante, Kevin Orduna and Billy Boado to repulse last year’s champion.
Both teams actually tied with 2-1 win-loss records, but the Cardinals advanced due to the “winner-over-the-other” rule.
Pangasinan champion University of Luzon and University of Northern Philippines of Vigan tied at the bottom with one win each.
The Cardinals, the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) champions, earned a trip to Manila to compete in the Luzon-Metro Manila Zonal Qualifying games where four seats to the Sweet 16 Finals are at stake.
They will be joined by UAAP’s National University and University of the East, NCAA’s Letran and Arellano University, NAASCU champion University of Manila Hawks, ISSA champion Lyceum, UCAA titlist Colegio de Sta. Monica, SL-Bicol winner CCDI and the champions of the ongoing NCAA-S, UCLAAI and MMCAA.
Meanwhile, the Mindanao regional championship of the PLDT-Smart sponsored PCCL games is scheduled on Nov. 4-7 in Cagayan de Oro City.
Seeing action are the champion teams of the “mother leagues” in Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro.
The winner will go to Cebu for the Vis-Min Zonal Qualifying games to vie for two finals seats.
Ten seats have been secured by top teams of the UAAP, NCAA and CESAFI.
The early qualifiers are led by UAAP champion Ateneo, NCAA titlist San Beda College and CESAFI king University of Cebu. Completing the list are Far Eastern University, Adamson, La Salle, San Sebastian-Recoletos, Jose Rizal University, Mapua and University of Visayas.
The eighth edition of the Champions League is also sponsored by Molten Balls and ABS-CBN, the official covering television network.
For more details, visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.