The reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champions University of San Carlos Warriors and runners-up, University of the Visayas Green Lancers plunge into action in the Elite Eight of the 2015 National Collegiate Championship when they take on separate opponents today at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities Gym in Tanauan, Batangas.
The Warriors have the unenviable task of facing off against the UAAP’s National University Bulldogs at 4 p.m. while the Green Lancers, who snuck into the Elite Eight by winning the Visayas-Mindanao qualifiers last week, battle the Technological Institute of the Philippines at 2 p.m.
The Elite Eight is adapting the knockout step-ladder format, which means every game will be a do-or-die match-up.
Should UV emerge victorious in their game today, they will be facing off against the defending NCC champions, San Beda Red Lions. And should USC come away with a victory, next up for them will be the UAAP runner-up, University of Santo Tomas.
The Green Lancers will be heading to today’s game with lots of momentum after winning against the Holy Trinity Wildcats and the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Rams in lopsided manner last week. The Warriors, on the other hand, is in transition, now operating under the watchful eye of new head coach Bong Abad who took over the squad after former head coach Britt Reroma left for a coaching stint in Malaysia.
Still, the Warriors have plenty of firepower with the return of former reinforcement Espoir Toyambe of Congo to the team, thus joining forces with Cesafi MVP Shooster Olago and Mythical Five member Charles Pepito.
The Lancers also have enough in their arsenal to make noise in the NCC with Jun Manzo, Franz Arong, Steve Akomo and the returning Monic Soliva.
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