Inclement weather leads to NCC semifinal winners declared as co-champions
In a stunning turn of events, the winners of today’s semifinal matches in the 2015 National Collegiate Championship will be declared as co-champions.
This was declared by the league’s board in light of the heavy rains brought on by the arrival of Typhoon Nona in the country.
Initially, the semifinal matches involving Cebu’s own University of San Carlos Warriors and UAAP champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws, and NCAA-ruler Letran Knights and the San Beda
Red Lions were supposed to be staged on Wednesday but were moved to today. But with the threat of inclement weather carrying on for several more days, the league board decided it was prudent to just have co-champions.
“The PCCL board has decided to shorten the NCC competitions in consideration of safety and convenience of students and players. Therefore, the winners of today’s games will be declared as co-champions of 2015 National Collegiate Championship and shall share the prize awards due them,” said the league in a statement.
HUGE CHANCE
This means that the Warriors will now get a timely shot at becoming the very first team outside of Manila to become national champions. And with the Tamaraws set to field in a roster which bears no resemblance with the team that won this season’s UAAP crown, the Warriors have never been more pumped for a match.
According to FEU assistant coach Ryan Betia, who ironically will be up against the very same team he helped mold before moving on to greener pastures in Manila, no longer playing in this tournament are Finals MVP Mac Belo, star guard Mike Tolomia, Achie Iñigo, Russell Escoto and Cesafi products Roger Pogoy, Al Francis Tamsi and Ron Dennison.
In their place will be several neophytes in Joseph Nunag, Kimlee Bayquin, Allen delos Santos, Brandrey Bienes, Stephen Roxas and the returning Joel Lee Yu, a former University of San Carlos Baby Warrior.
The Warriors are expected to go all out today and build on the momentum from edging out the National University Bulldogs, 73-72, on Monday and their 82-72 victory over University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers last Tuesday.
As expected, Cameroonian reinforcement Shooster Olago will be the star of the show, with his averages of 20.5 points and 11 rebounds per outing. Also there to back him up is Congolese import Espoir Toyambe, Cesafi Mythical Five forward Charles Pepito, Ian Tagapan and Ian Ortega.
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