Arellano U Chiefs, USC Warriors PCCL Finalists
November 8 , 2009

Arellano University Chiefs, NCAA 5th placer, and University of San Carlos Warriors, CESAFI 3rd placer, barged into the elite “Sweet 16” group at the Champions League Bacolod Zonal Qualifying games held at West Negros Gym, Bacolod City.

The Chiefs outlasted University of San Carlos Warriors, 79 to 74, in a hotly contested game first game. Playing more cohesively in succeeding games, the visiting Chiefs breezed by Holy Trinity College Wildcats, Mindanao champion, 108 to 47 and frustrated West Negros University Mustangs, Visayas champion, 79 to 67.

After losing the first game, USC Warriors bounced back with strong wins over WNU Mustangs, 71 to 57, and  HTC Wildcats, 86 to 63, to return to the “Sweet 16” Finals.

At the Cebu Zonal games, Adamson University Soaring Falcons, UAAP 5th placer, lead the way with close wins over the Fajardo-led University of Cebu Webmasters, 78 to 72, and University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 84 to 81.

Still in the running for one of the Finals slots are NAASCU champion, San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite Baycats and UC Webmasters. The Baycats beat USJR Jaguars, 86 to 77, in day one of the series but dropped its second assignment to UC, 74 to 66.

De La Salle Green Archers, 2008 Philippine Collegiate Champion, start its title defense by trying to earn a Finals seat at the Naga City zonal games starting November 12 to 14. Competing against the Green Archers are the St. Francis of Assisi Doves, University of Nueva Caceres Greyhounds and the eventual NCAA-South Champion.

The Manila zonal games will start on November 10 with Mapua Cardinals, NCAA 6th placer, leading seven other teams in search for the last two seats of the “Sweet 16” Finals. The other participating teams are: University of Manila Hawks, Universal Colleges Dragons, La Consolacion College Blue Royals, Central Colleges of the Philippines Bobcats, Lyceum of Subic Bay Cats, the eventual ISSA champion and NCAA-South runner-up.